RESUMO
there is widespread recognition that some part of the utilization of hospital resources is inappropriate. The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol [AEP] was developed to provide an objective criterion-based assessment of medical appropriateness of admissions and subsequent days of care. to quality the inappropriate utilization of surgical beds in terms of inappropriate days, to identify predictors of inappropriateness, and to determine reasons for inappropriate utilization of surgical beds. the appropriateness of 2406 hospital days contributed by 370 patients admitted to general surgical departments in two hospitals in Ismailia, was assessed by means of the Adult Medical-Surgical version of the AEP. If the day was inappropriate, reasons for inappropriateness were searched. Patients were followed-up daily till discharge using a questionnaire containing the predictor variables [patient and hospitalization characteristics]. AEP identified 45% [University Hospital] and 57.5% [General Hospital] of hospital days as inappropriate. Inappropriate days were higher among elderly, singles, and illiterate patients, operated cases, and those with long stay. Multivariate analysis showed that gender, education, admission channel, admission at holidays, source of payment, and length of stay were significant predictors predictors for inappropriate days. The commonest reason for inappropriate days was "Diagnostic procedure or treatment can be done on an outpatient basis". based on the AEP criteria, it was found that about half of hospital days were considered inappropriate in the two hospitals