Factors associated with patient absenteeism for scheduled endoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors to help predict which patients are likely to fail to appear for an endoscopic procedure.


METHODS
This was a retrospective, chart review, cohort study in a Canadian, tertiary care, academic, hospital-based endoscopy clinic. Patients included were: those undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy and patients who failed to appear were compared to a control group. The main outcome measure was a multivariate analysis of factors associated with truancy from scheduled endoscopic procedures. Factors analyzed included gender, age, waiting time, type of procedure, referring physician, distance to hospital, first or subsequent endoscopic procedure or encounter with gastroenterologist, and urgency of the procedure.


RESULTS
Two hundred and thirty-four patients did not show up for their scheduled appointment. Compared to a control group, factors statistically significantly associated with truancy in the multivariate analysis were: non-urgent vs urgent procedure (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06, 2.450), referred by a specialist vs a family doctor (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.31, 5.52) and office-based consult prior to endoscopy vs consult and endoscopic procedure during the same appointment (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.33, 3.78).


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying patients who are not scheduled for same-day consult and endoscopy, those referred by a specialist, and those with non-urgent referrals may help reduce patient truancy.
Wong
Victor K
VK
St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Zhang
Hong-Bin
HB
Enns
Robert
R
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment