Predictors of nonattendance of intake appointments among five Asian American client groups

The authors examined the relationship of demographic, clinical, and service program factors with preintake attrition rates, or the nonattendance of intake appointments, among 5 Asian American groups at an ethnic-specific program. The results show that younger age, earlier appointment, Asian language match with the prescreening interviewer, and assignment of the prescreening interviewer as the intake therapist increased; however, gender match with prescreening interviewer decreased-the likelihood of intake attendance. As hypothesized, Southeast Asians (Cambodian, Iu Mien, and Vietnamese Americans to a lesser degree) reported higher intake attendance rates than more established East Asian groups (Chinese and Korean Americans). Specific implications of these results to program evaluation and to development and improvements in service delivery to Asian American groups are discussed.