title: Pediatric Return Appointment Adherence for Child Welfare-Involved Children in Los Angeles California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study of primarily Latino caregivers and Latino child welfare-involved children had the following aims: (1) explore the return appointment adherence patterns at a pediatric medical clinic; and (2) determine the relationship of adherence to return appointments and caregiver, child, and clinic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of caregivers of child welfare-involved children who were asked to make a pediatric outpatient clinic return appointment (N = 87). Predictors included caregiver demographics, child medical diagnoses and age, and clinic/convenience factors including distance from the clinic to caregiver's home, days until the return appointment, reminder telephone call, Latino provider, and additional specialty appointment. Predictors were examined using χ(2) and t tests of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine percent of all caregivers were nonadherent in returning for pediatric appointments. When return appointments were scheduled longer after the initial appointment, caregivers were less likely to bring children back for medical care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 39 % missed return appointment rate in this study is higher than other similar pediatric populations. Better coordination between pediatricians and caregivers in partnership with child welfare case workers is needed to ensure consistent follow-up regarding health problems, especially when appointments are not scheduled soon after the initial appointment.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0411, USA. juschnei@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Janet U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. caitlin.alka.smith@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. JArnold@dhs.lacounty.gov.
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Arnold-Clark
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jorgef@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0411, USA. abrinkma@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Andrea K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics; D017010:Reminder Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States
keywords: Child welfare; Foster care; Latino caregivers; Return appointment adherence