title: Patient, hospital, and general practitioner characteristics associated with non-attendance: a cohort study.
abstract: Studies examining characteristics of non-attendance at hospital outpatients have given inconsistent results. We examined a cohort of 1972 referrals from 26 general practitioners, with complete follow-up. Five factors were found to be significantly associated with non-attendance: male sex, younger age, longer interval between referral and appointment, higher Jarman score and patients of a high-referring general practitioner. Targeting of strategies to reduce non-attendance is possible using these results.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Medicine, North and East Devon Health Authority, Exeter.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Round
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010819:Physician's Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014850:Waiting Lists