title: Why do outpatients fail to keep their clinic appointments? Results from a survey and recommended remedial actions.
abstract: We undertook a survey of 2555 outpatients (both new and review) to look at the reasons for high non-attendance (DNA) rates. Completed questionnaires (n = 983, 38.5% response) indicated the main reasons: forgetting or not receiving the appointment because of illness, and less often because of feeling better; transport problems; and short notice. Our remedial actions included improving the clerical system, announcing DNA rates on a regular basis in GP surgeries and in the outpatient department, introducing a tear-off slip with the appointment letter for patients to return, installing a free answerphone, active GP/consultant involvement in DNA-related problems and local publicity campaigns. A new scheme in our trust--outpatient telephone follow-up--may also help in reducing DNA rates.
authors.affiliation: South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Taberner
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Readman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016312:Treatment Refusal