Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T17:00:09.835Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improving out-patient attendance using postal appointment reminders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. W. Rusius
C. W. Rusius*
Affiliation:
Alexandra House, Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield S11 9EL
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Previous studies have demonstrated high rates of non-attendance among new referrals to psychiatric out-patient clinics. Consistent factors which distinguish non-attenders have not been shown. Forgetting an appointment contributes towards non-attendance and offers potential for its reduction. The effect of sending patients an appointment reminder three working days prior to the appointment date was examined. The rate of attendance of those sent a reminder improved significantly.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 19 , Issue 5 , May 1995 , pp. 291 - 292
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995

References

Carpenter, P. J., Morrow, G. R., DelGaudio, A. C. & Ritzler, B. A. (1981) Who keeps the first out-patient appointment? American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 102–105.Google Scholar
Farid, B. T. & Alapont, E. (1993) Patients who fall to attend their first psychiatric out-patient appointment: Non-attendance or inappropriate referral. Journal of Mental Health, 2, 81–83.Google Scholar
Frankel, S., Farrow, A. & West, R. (1989) Non-attendance or non-invitation? A case control study of failed out-patient appointments. British Medical Journal, 298, 1343–1345.Google Scholar
Grover, S., Gagnon, G., Flegel, K. M. & Hoey, J. R. (1983) Improving appointment-keeping by patients to a hospital medical clinic with telephone or mailed reminders. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 129, 1101–1103.Google Scholar
Sparr, L. F., Mofftt, M. C. & Ward, M. F. (1993) Missed psychiatric appointments: who returns and who stays away. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 801–805.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.