Non-attendance at a psychiatric clinic

Abstract

High attrition rates in psychiatric out-patient departments are well documented in the literature (Baekeland & Lundwall, 1975; Gillis & Egert, 1973). Non-attenders' attitudes and beliefs about their illness and treatment may provide valuable insight into reasons for not attending. This consumer orientated approach could enable clinicians not only to improve clinic attendance but to assess their treatment efficacy.

An Audit Study of Defaulters of Regular Psychiatric Outpatient Appointments in Hong Kong

“…One would expect more patients to default at the beginning of treatment before therapeutic relationships are established. Mixed results have been reported on clinical diagnosis as predictors of attendance (Smyth et al 1990;Thapar & Ghosh 1991). We found more defaulters with F2 (Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders) and F3 (Mood/ affective disorders) diagnoses.…”

“…Looking at the demographic data, we found fewer defaulters with age below 19. Young age had often been linked to non-attendance (Thapar & Ghosh 1991;Campbell et art. 1991).…”

Psychiatric clinics in probation offices in South Wales

“…The probation clients in our survey found the setting of the clinics acceptable to them and found it easier to disclose personal information in a setting to which they were accustomed. This may partly explain the low levels of non-attendance described earlier and compares favourably with a non-attendance rate of 17.5% in a general psychiatric clinic (Thapar & Ghosh, 1991) and 33% in a forensic psychiatric clinic based in a hospital setting (Bowden, 1978).…”

Cost comparison of psychiatric outpatient clinics based in hospitals and in primary care (general practice health center)

“…The nonattendance rate for new outpatients is reported as 16-402 (15, 16) and for follow-up outpatients as 16-38% (1, 16). For a hospital-based setting, both figures for new and follow-up patients were used.…”