Length of time on a waiting list and attrition after intake.

Abstract

Researchers have hypothesized that administrative variables in counseling service delivery may be significant factors in client attrition. The present study was an investigation of the relation between the length of time that clients spent on a waiting list and attrition after intake. Participants were 1,688 clients at a major university's counseling center. Attrition was defined as failure to attend the first interview after intake. Statistical analyses revealed that time spent on the waiting list did not differentiate counseling conlinuers from noncontinuers for either educational/ vocational or emotional/social clients.Research on counseling center attrition rates has revealed that as many as 25% of the university-student help seekers that receive an intake interview fail to return for the first interview (Epperson, 1981). Typically, those studying attrition have concentrated on one of the following three variables: (a) similarities and differences between those students who terminate after intake and those who do not (

Attrition After Intake at a University Counseling Center: Relationship Among Client Race, Problem Type, and Time on a Waiting List

“…Similar to the findings of previous researchers on waiting list attrition (Anderson et al, 1987;Archer, 1981Archer, , 1984Krauskopf et al, 1981;May, 1990;Obetz et al, 1997), we found that the majority of clients returned to counseling regardless of time on a waiting list. The focus of our study, however, was not simply to determine whether or not the majority of clients returned for services but to examine the characteristics of those clients who did not return.…”

“…Previous research on waiting list attrition has failed to examine the possible influences of racial differences. For example, Anderson et al (1987) found no significant difference in waiting list attrition between those who had a long wait and those who had a short wait between intake and the first session. However, a limitation of this study was that group differences were examined only between those who had a long wait for services and those who had a short wait for services.…”

“…A challenge all too familiar for staff at university counseling centers is meeting the demand for services in an appropriate and timely fashion. Because the demand for services may outweigh available staff resources, certain administrative procedures, such as the creation of a client waiting list, may become necessary (Anderson, Hogg, & Magoon, 1987). Reports from the College and University Counseling Centers Data Bank (Magoon, 2001) and other research (e.g., Clack, Stone, & Thurman, 1984) indicate the pervasiveness of waiting list procedures.…”

The Relationship Between Wait Time After Triage and Show Rate for Intake in a Nonurgent Student Population

“…Anderson et al (1987) looked at attrition for students placed on a waiting list after intake and found no increase in attrition with wait time. The current finding suggests, however, that being placed on a waiting list before intake, and after triage, does lead to attrition.…”

Premature Termination from University Counseling Centers: A Review

“…One clinic variable involves the length of wait for ongoing counseling beyond the intake session. Two studies did not find significant differences between continuers and dropouts in length of wait from intake to first session (Anderson, Hogg, & Magoon, 1987;Rodolfa, Rapaport, & Lee, 1983). Similarly, Robbins et al (1985) did not find that time between sign-up and workshop date predicted attrition from career workshops, Rodolfa et al, (1983), however, reported that longer de-lays from intake to counselor assignment and longer-duration intake interviews were each associated with premature termination.…”