title: Non-attendance and utilization of a speech and language therapy service: a retrospective pilot study of school-aged referrals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-attendance and inappropriate referrals affect the effective and efficient running of healthcare services. Non-engagement with speech and language therapy (SLT) services may lead to negative long-term consequences for children in need of SLT intervention. Currently there is a dearth of research on non-attendance and non-engagement with SLT services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with (1) non-attendance and (2) parents' non-engagement with SLT services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data were collected from 140 case files of children (aged 5;0-17;11 years) discharged from a public community SLT service (November 2011-October 2013) with no intervention provided. Logistic regression analyses explored relationships between demographic data and (1) non-attendance and (2) non-engagement with the SLT service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increased probability of non-attendance during winter (i.e. September-February inclusive; OR = 3.14; p = 0.028) relative to summer, and with each month a child waited for SLT assessment (OR = 1.19; p = 0.066). There was decreased probability of non-attendance with children referred for speech (OR = 0.08; p = 0.011) or language difficulties (OR = 0.15; p = 0.050) relative to dysfluency. The probability of non-engagement with the SLT service increased in each of the following conditions: with each month a child waited for assessment (OR = 1.27; p = 0.004); in urban (OR = 2.40; p = 0.066) relative to rural locations; during winter (OR = 2.65; p = 0.021) relative to summer; and with referrals made by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers (OR = 18.65; p = 0.016) relative to doctor referrals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-attendance is influenced by wait times, season and the reason for referral. Location (urban versus rural), referral source, wait times and season are factors related to non-engagement with SLT services. Targeted policies to improve efficiency and effectiveness of SLT services could be designed around these study findings.
authors: Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Curran
authors: Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Flynn
authors: Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Stanislava
authors: S
authors: Antonijevic-Elliott
authors: Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Rena
authors: R
authors: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007808:Language Therapy; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013070:Speech Therapy; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: community speech and language therapy service; failure to attend; inappropriate referrals; service utilization