Why do patients default from follow-up at a genitourinary clinic?: a multivariate analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Genitourinary Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Patient default from follow-up appointments poses a challenge in healthcare settings.
• Understanding factors influencing non-attendance is crucial for improving clinic efficiency and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare default rates between genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and other hospital-based clinics.
• To identify factors associated with non-attendance at a city center GUM clinic.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study analyzing default rates across GUM, general medical, general surgical, and dermatology clinics.
• A prospective case-control study using multivariate logistic regression to analyze GUM clinic non-attenders versus attenders.
• Data collected on appointment timing, diagnosis, prior clinic contact, domestic factors, and demographics.

Main Results:

• The GUM clinic default rate was 15%, similar to medical (13%), surgical (15%), and dermatology (14%) clinics.
• Significant factors associated with non-attendance at the GUM clinic included appointment timing, residence area, health advisor contact frequency, and patient age.
• Factors like diagnosis, sexual orientation, referral source, and employment status were not significantly linked to defaulting.

Conclusions:

• Appointment scheduling and interaction with health advisors are modifiable factors that can potentially decrease GUM clinic non-attendance.
• Targeting these controllable variables may improve patient adherence to follow-up appointments.