An audit of the factors involved in new patient non-attendance in a dermatology out-patient department.
Non-attendance at out-patient clinics, although common, has received relatively little attention. A prospective study was undertaken to assess the extent of the problem of non-attendances of newly referred dermatological patients in a single dermatological out-patient clinic over a 12-month period. The overall non-attendance rate was found to be 19%. There were no apparent significant differences between the groups of attending and non-attending patients when compared statistically. A survey of those patients who failed to attend suggested that inadequate communication between the hospital and patients (17%) and patients forgetting their appointment date (23%) may be factors that are amenable to administrative changes.
Department of Dermatology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
W W
WW
Bottomley
J A
JA
Cotterill
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003880:Dermatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*