Initial appointment nonattendance in child and family mental health clinics.
Current medical, psychiatric, and nursing sources were examined for literature concerning the problem of initial appointment non attendance at child and family mental health clinics. The factors proposed to underlie missed initial appointments were reviewed and found to be both contradictory and inconsistent. Interventions designed to increase attendance were considered. These interventions were found to significantly increase attendance consistently. However, it is noted that the research on underlying factors is not utilized in structuring these interventions. Suggestions for future research to address this problem are offered.
Benway
C B
CB
Yale University, Department of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA. CBenway@villageforchildren.org
Hamrin
Vanya
V
McMahon
Thomas J
TJ
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*