title: Who comes back to a paediatric outpatient clinic?
abstract: Over a four week period, 498 children had appointments to be seen again at a paediatric medical outpatient clinic. 15.8% of the patients did not keep their appointments. The three most common types of disorder accounting for over half the consultations were asthma, neurological/developmental problems and genitourinary conditions. Over half (57%) had been referred within the previous two years, and only 29% had been seen for three or more years. Involvement with other medical and paramedical specialists occurred in 55%. This reflected the multidisciplinary management approach for the longer term patients. Only 14 new such referrals were generated as a result of the consultations over the four week study period. The work of the clinic was concerned with relevant chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch Hospital.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mogridge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires