Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
06:16
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Late for a Most Important Date: Can We Predict Punctuality for Clinic Appointments?
Lindsay Herrera-Venegas1, Xiaolei Mao2, Danielle R Schalk2
1Division of Urology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Patient lateness to clinic appointments was not associated with travel time or social determinants of health. Unidentified individual or situational factors likely contribute to appointment delays.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Flow Optimization
Background:
- Patient lateness disrupts clinic flow, increases costs, and reduces satisfaction.
- Identifying factors associated with punctuality is crucial for improving healthcare operations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with patient punctuality in urology outpatient clinics.
- To investigate the relationship between travel time, social determinants of health, and patient lateness.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of urology outpatient clinic visits from January to May 2023.
- Collected data on patient demographics, travel time, diagnosis, and social determinants of health.
- Compared punctual and late patients.
Main Results:
- 12.1% of 696 visits were late, with a median delay of 5 minutes.
- No significant association found between lateness and patient age, travel time, or social determinants (food, transportation, housing insecurity).
- Penile concerns were more prevalent in late patients (29.8%) compared to punctual patients (9.5%).
Conclusions:
- Travel time, age, and social determinants of health were not linked to patient lateness.
- Lateness may stem from individual patient circumstances or situational factors rather than identifiable risk factors.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
01:08The Availability Heuristic
A heuristic is a general problem-solving framework (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). You can think of these as mental shortcuts that are used to solve problems. Different types of heuristics are used in different types of situations, and the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of five conditions is met (Pratkanis, 1989):
01:19Purpose of Health Records II
Health records serve various essential purposes in the healthcare system. Here are some key purposes:
01:13Special considerations while measuring pulse
Assessing a patient's pulse is a fundamental skill in healthcare, but certain situations require special attention:
01:26Guidelines for Nursing Documentation II
Effective documentation is an integral part of nursing practice. Here are some essential guidelines to follow when documenting patient care:
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.