Family Practice Vol. 10, No. 2, 111-117
© Oxford University Press 1993
research-article |
Non-attendance at Outpatient Clinics: Is It Related to the Referral Process?
Deparment of Public Health and Primary Care, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF. UK
Non-attendance at outpatient clinics is a complex problem and previous studies have concentrated on hospital-related factors. It has been suggested that non-attendance might be related to the referral pro cess, including the selection of patients for referral and the quality of communication between GP and patient. These issues are examined in a study of 1492 patients given first-time appointments at ENT and gastroenterology clinics. Non-attendance rates were 26 and 20% respectively. Non-attendance was not related to the nature, severity or duration of the patients' presenting problems at the time of referral or to their perception of the need for referral. Resolution of symptoms did not appear to be a major reason for non-attendance. Patients were significantly less likely to attend if they had been unable or only partly able to discuss their health problem with their general practitioner. Those who had requested referral were equally likely to default.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  H. Killaspy Psychiatric out-patient services: origins and future Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., September 1, 2006; 12(5): 309 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J D van Baar, H Joosten, J Car, G K Freeman, M R Partridge, C van Weel, and A Sheikh Understanding reasons for asthma outpatient (non)-attendance and exploring the role of telephone and e-consulting in facilitating access to care: exploratory qualitative study. Qual. Saf. Health Care, June 1, 2006; 15(3): 191 - 195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. McIvor, E. Ek, and J. Carson Non-attendance rates among patients attending different grades of psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist within a community mental health clinic Psychiatr. Bull., January 1, 2004; 28(1): 5 - 7. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. B. Forrest, A. Majeed, J. P. Weiner, K. Carroll, and A. B. Bindman Referral of Children to Specialists in the United States and the United Kingdom Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 2003; 157(3): 279 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A Murdock, C Rodgers, H Lindsay, and T C K Tham Why do patients not keep their appointments? Prospective study in a gastroenterology outpatient clinic J R Soc Med, January 6, 2002; 95(6): 284 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J Sharp and W. Hamilton Non-attendance at general practices and outpatient clinics BMJ, November 10, 2001; 323(7321): 1081 - 1082. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. I. Bekkelund and R. Salvesen Are headache patients who initiate their referral to a neurologist satisfied with the consultation? A population study of 927 patients--the North Norway Headache Study (NNHS) Fam. Pract., October 1, 2001; 18(5): 524 - 527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. KILLASPY, S. BANERJEE, M. KING, and M. LLOYD Prospective controlled study of psychiatric out-patient non-attendance: Characteristics and outcome The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2000; 176(2): 160 - 165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Hamilton, A. Round, and D. Sharp Effect on hospital attendance rates of giving patients a copy of their referral letter: randomised controlled trial BMJ, May 22, 1999; 318(7195): 1392 - 1395. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|