Missed appointments in an adolescent outpatient clinic: descriptive analyses of consultations over 8 years.

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_2B20A059A89A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Missed appointments in an adolescent outpatient clinic: descriptive analyses of consultations over 8 years.
Journal
Swiss medical weekly
Author(s)
Chariatte V., Michaud P.A., Berchtold A., Akré C., Suris J.C.
ISSN
1424-7860 (Print)
ISSN-L
0036-7672
Publication state
Published
Issued date
01/12/2007
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
137
Number
47-48
Pages
677-681
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Missed appointments represent an important medical and economical issue. Few studies on the subject are reported in the literature, particularly regarding adolescents. Our aim was to characterize missed and cancelled appointments in a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for adolescents, to assess the effectiveness of a policy aimed at reducing missed appointments by introducing payment for those missed appointments not cancelled in advance, and to compare the rates between staff and resident physicians.
A total of 32,816 consultations (representing 35 patients aged 12-20 years, 82.4% females) between 1999 and 200 were analysed.
The missed appointment rate was 11.8% whilst another 10.9% were cancellations. Females cancelled more than males (11.3% vs. 8.4%, AOR 1.31, 99% CI 1.08-1.59), but there was no difference for missed appointments (11.6% vs. 12.3%, AOR 0.88, 99% CI 0.61-1.08). April and June to October (vacation months) were associated with more missed appointments. Globally mornings had higher rates of missed appointments than afternoons (13.6% vs. 11.2%, AOR 1.25, 99% CI 1.11-1.40). There was a slight difference in missed appointment rates between staff physicians and residents (10.4%; 11.8%, AOR 1.20, 99% CI 1.08-1.33). Missed appointment rates before and after the new policy on missed appointments were similar (1999-2003: 11.9%; 2004-2006: 11.6%, AOR 0.96, 99% CI 0.83-1.10). Conversely, cancellation rates increased from 8.4% (1999-2003) to 14.5% (2004-2006) (AOR 1.83, 99% CI 1.63-2.05).
Attendance rates among adolescents show variations depending on vacation and school hours. Being attentive to these factors could help prevent missed appointments. Although having to pay for missed appointments does not increase attendance, it increases cancellations with the advantage that the appointment can be rescheduled.

Keywords
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adolescent Health Services, Adult, Appointments and Schedules, Child, Continuity of Patient Care, Fees and Charges, Female, Hospitals, University, Humans, Male, Management Audit, Organizational Policy, Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/economics, Patient Compliance, Physician-Patient Relations
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
29/02/2008 15:57
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:10
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