title: Characteristics of dropouts from a child psychiatry clinic in Hong Kong.
abstract: There is, to date, no study on the pattern of dropping out from child and adolescent psychiatry clinics in a non-western setting. This study aims to investigate this phenomenon in Hong Kong. The database and medical charts of 235 new cases were reviewed 1 year after the initial assessments. The clinical, demographic and family data of the dropout and non-dropout groups were compared. An overall dropout rate of 27.2% was found. Boys and children with attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder and infantile autism were less likely to drop out. No interaction with gender was found. Compared with western literature, there are some important differences in the factors associated with dropping out of treatment. Our study highlights the importance of socio-cultural influences on the characteristics of clinic drop-outs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors