Abstract:
Aims and method Non-attendance rates in a psychiatric out-patient clinic and the
effectiveness of telephone or postal reminders in reducing non-attendance were
evaluated. All patients who did not attend the clinic for their second appointment
within 2 weeks were contacted by telephone or letter. Patients who failed to attend
the clinic 6 weeks after the reminder were classified as non-attendees.
Results Rate of non-attendance before the intervention was 31.3% (n = 61/195).
After the intervention this was reduced to 23.1%, a relative risk reduction of 26.2%.
Being male, not being prescribed medicines, having a diagnosis of psychoactive
substance use or dementia were risk factors for non-attendance (odds ratio, OR41).
Risk of non-attendance was low for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depressive
disorder (OR51).
Clinical implications A simple low-cost intervention in the form of a reminder
reduced non-attendance rates. Routine implementation of this intervention should be
considered in all psychiatry out-patient services in low- and middle-income countries.
Declaration of interest None.
