title: Clinical intake of child and adolescent consumers in a rural community mental health center: does wait-time predict attendance?
abstract: This study examines the clinic variable of wait-time as a predictor of intake attendance in a rural community mental health center (CMHC) serving child and adolescent consumers. Data from 1,317 contacts seeking services for a child or adolescent (ages 2-17) were examined. In logistic regression analysis, wait-time between initial consumer contact and intake appointment was identified as a significant predictor of appointment attendance, even after accounting for consumer variables. The impact of wait-time on the likelihood of intake appointment attendance was not moderated by the urgency of consumer need. Findings elucidate the odds of intake attendance versus non-attendance associated with each day of wait-time and clarify the impact of this clinic variable on pre-intake attrition above and beyond more often studied consumer variables. These results provide information that can assist rural CMHCs in assessing the costs and benefits of steps to reduce wait-time or its impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. shermanma@umkc.edu
authors.forename: Marne L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Barnum
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buhman-Wiggs
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nyberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D014850:Waiting Lists