A demographic study to profile non-attenders at a gynaecology outpatient clinic.

By:

Pillai, R

Contributor(s):

Publication details: 2012ISSN:

01443615

Uniform titles:

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology

Online resources:

Summary: Missed outpatient appointments result in the inefficient utilisation of resources and have secondary effects on the health of the non-attenders, as well as on other patients who have to wait longer for their appointments. The first part of the study involved retrospective analysis of trends of non-attendance based on a computerised database of all gynaecology appointments over 12 months. The second comprised a prospective case-control study in which women who missed their gynaecology outpatient appointments (index cases) over 2 months were compared with patients who attended the same clinics matched for indication for referral (control cases). The overall non-attendance rate over 12 months was 16.1%, of whom 42% were recurrent non-attenders. Data from 105 defaulters were compared with 105 non-defaulters who attended the same clinics. Defaulters were significantly younger, single or separated and were more likely to be 'follow-ups' rather than new cases (all p < 0.05). Longer intervals between the appointment letter and actual appointment date was significantly related to non-attendance (p = 0.01) and there was a trend to a greater degree of smoking and alcohol ingestion in the defaulter group (p = 0.059). Comparison of other variables such as severity of symptoms, parity, source of referral and fluency of English did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). This prospective study has demonstrated certain profiles which are common to defaulters and which can be used to develop strategies to minimise non-attendance. Examples include reducing the time interval between sending the appointment letter and actual appointment date and selectively over-booking younger, single women who smoke.

Holdings
Item type	Home library	Collection	Class number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Book	Ferriman information and Library Service (North Middlesex) Shelves	Staff publications for NMDX		Available

NMUH Staff Publications

Missed outpatient appointments result in the inefficient utilisation of resources and have secondary effects on the health of the non-attenders, as well as on other patients who have to wait longer for their appointments. The first part of the study involved retrospective analysis of trends of non-attendance based on a computerised database of all gynaecology appointments over 12 months. The second comprised a prospective case-control study in which women who missed their gynaecology outpatient appointments (index cases) over 2 months were compared with patients who attended the same clinics matched for indication for referral (control cases). The overall non-attendance rate over 12 months was 16.1%, of whom 42% were recurrent non-attenders. Data from 105 defaulters were compared with 105 non-defaulters who attended the same clinics. Defaulters were significantly younger, single or separated and were more likely to be 'follow-ups' rather than new cases (all p &lt; 0.05). Longer intervals between the appointment letter and actual appointment date was significantly related to non-attendance (p = 0.01) and there was a trend to a greater degree of smoking and alcohol ingestion in the defaulter group (p = 0.059). Comparison of other variables such as severity of symptoms, parity, source of referral and fluency of English did not reach statistical significance (p &gt; 0.05). This prospective study has demonstrated certain profiles which are common to defaulters and which can be used to develop strategies to minimise non-attendance. Examples include reducing the time interval between sending the appointment letter and actual appointment date and selectively over-booking younger, single women who smoke.

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