Predicting and explaining absenteeism risk in hospital patients before and during COVID-19

Borges, Ana; Carvalho, Mariana; Maia, Miguel; Guimarães, Miguel; Carneiro, Davide

doi:10.1016/j.seps.2023.101549

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…However, case mix analysis showed no shift in characteristics of patients’ pre and post COVID-19. This indicates factors related to patients’ characteristics may have more influence in their attendance behaviour than external factors such as COVID-19 pandemic [ 45 ]. This finding is different from findings in other published studies, which reported that older patients were more likely to miss their appointments post compared to pre COVID-19 [ 46 , 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates and predictors of missed hospital appointments in multiple outpatient clinics of The Royal Hospital, Sultanate of Oman: a retrospective study

Alawadhi,

Palin,

van Staa

2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant changes in the delivery of health care services such as attendance of scheduled outpatient hospital appointments. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the rate and predictors of missed hospital appointment in the Sultanate of Oman. Methods A retrospective single-centre analysis was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on missed hospital appointments at various clinics at The Royal Hospital (tertiary referral hospital) in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The study population included scheduled face-to-face and virtual appointments between January 2019 and March 2021. Logistic regression models were used with interaction terms (post COVID-19) to assess changes in the predictors of missed appointments. Results A total of 34, 3149 scheduled appointments was analysed (320,049 face-to-face and 23,100 virtual). The rate of missed face-to-face hospital appointments increased from 16.9% pre to 23.8% post start of COVID-19, particularly in early pandemic (40.5%). Missed hospital appointments were more frequent (32.2%) in virtual clinics (post COVID-19). Increases in missed face-to-face appointments varied by clinic (Paediatrics from 19.3% pre to 28.2% post; Surgery from 12.5% to 25.5%; Obstetrics & Gynaecology from 8.4% to 8.5%). A surge in the frequency of missed appointments was seen during national lockdowns for face-to-face and virtual appointments. Most predictors of missed appointments did not demonstrate any appreciable changes in effect (i.e., interaction term not statistically significant). Distance of patient residence to the hospital revealed no discernible changes in the relative effect pre and post COVID-19 for both face-to-face and virtual clinic appointments. Conclusion The rate of missed visits in most clinics was directly impacted by COVID-19. The case mix of patients who missed their appointments did not change. Virtual appointments, introduced after start of the pandemic, also had substantial rates of missed appointments and cannot be viewed as the single approach that can overcome the problem of missing hospital appointments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, we used multiple appointments per patients as it was justified by the finding from previous study that the rate of missed appointment across groups of patients with different number of previous appointment was similar. However, other might consider using a model of repeated measure or single appointment per patient [ 45 ].…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%