Author/Authors :
Ahmed، Mansoor نويسنده Department of Community Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institutes, Karnataka , , Chinnappan، Sujatha نويسنده Department of Paediatrics, Queen’s Hospital, Burton Upon
Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom , , Gole، Evangelia نويسنده Department of Paediatrics, Queen’s Hospital, Burton Upon
Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom , , Martin، Benjamin نويسنده Leicester Medical School, Leicester, United
Kingdom , , Manzoor، Azhar نويسنده Department of Paediatrics, Queen’s Hospital, Burton Upon
Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom ,
Abstract :
Non-attendance in clinics has major economic impact in the national
health service. Literature review indicates that main reason for
non-attendance is forgetfulness and reminders reduce the non-attendance
rate (NAR). We aimed to evaluate the NAR at the paediatric outpatient
clinics after implementation of telephone reminders. NAR was reviewed
for 6 months (February-July 2013) and compared with the NAR for similar
duration in 2014 (before and after implementation of telephone
reminders). Within 2014 data, comparison was also made for patients who
confirmed attendance during telephone reminders versus those left a
voice message and patients who were not contactable. Total number of
patients in 6 months were 4156 [2674 follow-up (F/U), 1482 New] in 2013
and 4732 [3100 F/U, 1632 New] in 2014. Overall NAR in 2014 was
significantly lower (5.1%) than in 2013 (P = < 0.001)). The
difference for follow up appointments was 6.9% (P = < 0.001), and
1.75% for new appointments (P = 0.147). Patients who confirmed
attendance were more likely to attend their appointment (97.9%) compared
with those left a voice message (91.4%) and those that were not
contactable (82.1%). Our results validate that telephonic confirmation
of clinic appointment plays a significant role in reducing the NAR in
paediatric out-patient clinic setting.
