title: What IAPT services can learn from those who do not attend.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rates of non-attendance within IAPT are 45-48%. Non-attendance has negative implications for patients, staff and services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This research aimed to identify service-related factors that contribute to non-attendance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interviews with 14 patients recruited from six IAPT services in the South West. These were individuals who, having been referred to IAPT, never attended, or only attended one treatment contact. They were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone using semi-structured interview schedules. The resulting data were analysed thematically through an iterative qualitative analysis using data mapping sheets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes emerged from an analysis of the data including: the waiting process, the relationship between IAPT services and GPs, expectations of assessment and treatment, rigidity of service and practitioner contributions to the relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis identifies ways in which IAPT services could reduce non-attendance. It also highlights areas of interest for future non-attendance in healthcare research, particularly collaborative care and protocolisation of treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Cath
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Child
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shenton
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pooler
authors.affiliation: b Expert by Experience , Solent Mind , Southampton , UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forber
authors.affiliation: a Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry , Plymouth Science Park, Derriford , Plymouth , UK and.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010358:Patient Participation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dropout; increasing access to psychological therapies; non-attendance; retention; service improvement