evaluation of patients’ reasons for discharge against medical advice in shafa hospital, kerman, iran

introduction: discharge against medical advice (dama) can be an important indicator of patient dissatisfaction. this study examined the reasons for the dama in shafa hospital (kerman, iran). methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study within august 2010 to march 2011 on patients in this hospital. over 9295 inpatients were discharged, 483 had dama and were assigned 190 contacts and out of 3600 outpatients, 382 had dama and 128 contacts. results: the rate of personal satisfaction for discharge in hospital wards was 5.19%. and it was 10.61% in outpatient which showed no statistically significant differences between the men and women. 45% of the personal desires to cause of hospital and 55% of hospital discharge with a personal desire reasons. conclusion: in shafa hospital, we might decrease the dama with treatment strategies such as increasing patient awareness from potential complications of the disease, the treatment plan for patients, creating a good atmosphere to relax patients, appropriate landscape design environment and etc.