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Health-seeking behaviour of foreign workers in Singapore: Insights from emergency department visits.
Chan, Joanna S E; Chia, Dennis W J; Hao, Ying; Lian, Sherman W Q; Chua, Mui Teng; Ong, Marcus E H.
  • Chan JSE; Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Ann Acad Med Singap ; 50(4): 315-324, 2021 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1257673
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

Foreign workers (FWs) on work permit face unique health challenges and potential barriers to healthcare. We aimed to examine the epidemiology, attendance patterns, disposition, and adherence to follow-up, by FWs on work permit to two emergency departments (EDs) in Singapore.

METHODS:

In this retrospective observational study, we included consecutive FWs on work permit who registered at the EDs of two public restructured hospitals from 1 May 2016 to 31 October 2016. Data obtained from electronic medical records included patient demographics, triage acuity, disposition, ED diagnoses and bill information.

RESULTS:

There were 6,429 individual FWs on work permit who contributed to 7,157 ED visits over the 6-month study period, with male predominance (72.7%, 4672/6429), and median age of 31 (interquartile range 26 to 38) years. A high proportion of these FWs were triaged to low-acuity status compared to the general ED population (66.9% versus 45.9%, P<0.001). Trauma-related injuries contributed to 34.4% of their visits, and were more likely to result in admission compared to non-trauma-related conditions (18.7% vs 15.2%, P<0.001). FWs engaged in shipyard, construction and process industries were more likely to be discharged "against medical advice" (14.8% vs 3.2%, P<0.001), and default their specialist outpatient follow-up (50.1% vs 34.2%, P<0.001) for non-trauma-related conditions compared to trauma-related injuries.

CONCLUSION:

In Singapore, the EDs of public restructured hospitals provide healthcare safety nets to FWs on work permit. These workers made more low-acuity visits compared to the general population during the study period and may face potential barriers to admission and follow-up.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Attitude to Health / Triage / Emergency Service, Hospital / Emigrants and Immigrants Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Ann Acad Med Singap Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Annals-acadmedsg.2020484

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Attitude to Health / Triage / Emergency Service, Hospital / Emigrants and Immigrants Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Ann Acad Med Singap Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Annals-acadmedsg.2020484