To see or not to see?...that is the question. An analysis of out-patient follow-up arrangements and non-attendance in a community paediatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the number of outpatient appointments made; the distance traveled to attend these and the proportion of these appointments missed.


METHODS
Retrospective Cohort Study.


METHODS
Community Paediatrics.


METHODS
Eighteen pre-school children on the Special Needs Register.


RESULTS
With an increase in the number of appointments made and the distances involved in attending these, the number of missed appointments tends to increase.


CONCLUSIONS
We need to educate parents as to the importance of follow-up, include families in decision making about appointments and rationalize the number of appointments made.
Cordiner
D
D
Victoria Hospital, Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY2 5AH. davidcordiner@aol.com
Logie
L
L
Becher
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland