Prevalence and Drivers of Missed Healthcare Appointments in Poland: Insights From a 2025 Survey

BACKGROUND Missed appointments (patient no-shows) are a critical challenge undermining healthcare system efficiency globally. This study aims to characterize the patient no-show phenomenon in Poland, identify factors associated with missed appointments, and propose potential measures to reduce the no-show phenomenon in the Polish healthcare system. MATERIAL AND METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted using computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI) from August 1 to 4, 2025. The study used quota sampling stratified by sex, age, and residence to obtain a nationwide sample of 1162 Polish adults aged 18 to 96 years. A self-prepared questionnaire was used. RESULTS Among all respondents, 88.5% used healthcare services within the previous 12 months. Among healthcare users (n=1014), 14% missed appointments without cancellation. Forgetting appointments (42.3%) and communication barriers (27.5%) were identified as the primary reasons for no-shows. Text message (SMS) reminder systems received 62.5% support, while 67.5% endorsed the implementation of a penalty fee for public system non-attendance. Multivariable analysis revealed significantly (P<0.05) increased odds of no-shows among adults aged under 60 years of age, parents with children <18 years (aOR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.28-3.40), and individuals with moderate (aOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.19-2.72) or poor financial status (aOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.47-4.60). CONCLUSIONS This study showed a relatively high prevalence of missed appointments in Poland. Young age, parental responsibilities, and economic constraints were associated with higher odds of no-shows. Findings support expanding digital notification systems and multi-channel communication infrastructure to reduce no-shows, rather than using punitive approaches.