title: Self-reported reasons among HIV-infected patients for missing clinic appointments.
abstract: Although adherence to clinic visits is important for successful clinical outcome in HIV treatment, little is known about the reasons patients with HIV miss appointments. We prospectively monitored the self-reported reasons for missed clinic appointments among HIV patients at a university hospital in South Korea from June through December 2006. Of the 1562 scheduled clinic visits, 131 (8%) of appointments were missed. Work schedule, forgetfulness and lack of motivation were the primary reasons given for missed appointments. Considering these factors when scheduling appointments may improve adherence to clinic attendance among HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wan Beom
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam Joong
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myoung-Don
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kang Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Choe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*