Journal article
Homelessness and Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Literature
Academic emergency medicine, v 25(5), pp 577-593
01 May 2018
PMID: 29223132
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
ObjectivesWe aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the demographics, prevalence, clinical characteristics, and evidence-based management of homeless persons in the emergency department (ED). Where appropriate, we highlight knowledge gaps and suggest directions for future research.
MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search following databases: PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar for articles published between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2016. We supplemented this search by cross-referencing bibliographies of the retrieved publications. Peer-reviewed studies written in English and conducted in the United States that examined homelessness within the ED setting were included. We used a qualitative approach to synthesize the existing literature.
ResultsTwenty-eight studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Based on our study objectives and the available literature, we grouped articles examining homeless populations in the ED into four broad categories: 1) prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of homeless ED visits, 2) ED utilization by homeless adults, 3) clinical characteristics of homeless ED visits, and 4) medical education and evidence-based management of homeless ED patients.
ConclusionHomelessness may be underrecognized in the ED setting. Homeless ED patients have distinct care needs and patterns of ED utilization that are unmet by the current disease-oriented and episodic models of emergency medicine. More research is needed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of homelessness in the ED and to develop evidence-based treatment strategies in caring for this vulnerable population.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Homelessness and Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Literature
- Creators
- Bisan A. Salhi - Emory UniversityMelissa H. White - Emory UniversityStephen R. Pitts - Emory UniversityDavid W. Wright - Emory University
- Publication Details
- Academic emergency medicine, v 25(5), pp 577-593
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 17
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Emergency Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000434028200009
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85040550081
- Other Identifier
- 991021903365804721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Emergency Medicine