Risk factors for non-attendance to new patient clinics in patients referred to a secondary Hospital

This service evaluation assessed factors associated with patients' attendance to new patient appointments at the dental directorate of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in the UK.

An analysis of over 40,000 new patient clinic referrals for 2022 was conducted.

Overall 'Did Not Attend' (DNA) rate was 14.5 %, and deprivation was a significant factor associated with non-attendance (DNA). Patients from the least deprived areas were less likely to miss appointments than patients from the most deprived areas (Odds Ratio, OR 0.62, 95 % confidence interval, CI: 0.49 to 0.79). Additionally, prolonged waiting times were strongly associated with higher DNA rates; patients waiting over 180 days were ten times more likely to DNA than those waiting <30 days (OR 10.01, 95 % CI 8.12 to 12.36). Age also played a role, with younger adults (25-34 years) being most likely to DNA. Ethnicity data was incomplete, limiting analysis. Among attendees, factors such as age and waiting time were associated with whether patients were discharged or remained under treatment in the hospital.

This study underscores the need for targeted interventions to mitigate barriers to attendance and highlights the importance of robust data collection to inform these efforts. Recommendations include offering support for travel costs and utilizing virtual clinics such as Advice and Guidance to improve accessibility, thus promoting health equity and optimizing resource utilization within health systems.