No-show at a forensic psychiatric outpatient clinic: risk factors and reasons

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2012 Feb;56(1):96-112. doi: 10.1177/0306624X10389435. Epub 2010 Dec 27.

Abstract

Nonattendance for and late cancellations of scheduled appointments, that is no-show, is a well-known phenomenon in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Research on the topic of no-show for initial and consecutive appointments in the field of forensic psychiatry is scarce. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence and causes of no-show and to explore reasons for nonattendance. The study was carried out in an outpatient clinic in northern Netherlands. Telephone interviews were administered to 27 no-show clients, 84 follow-up no-show clients, and 41 attendees of 18 years and older. A no-show rate of 24.9% and a follow-up no-show rate of 9.8% was found. The majority of appointments missed were in the beginning phase of clinic contact. No-show clients were younger than their attending counterparts and more often dropped out from clinic contact. Also, less family social support was experienced by nonattendees. Reasons for nonattendance were having forgotten about appointment and work commitments.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities* / statistics & numerical data
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / epidemiology
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / rehabilitation*
  • Appointments and Schedules*
  • Commitment of Mentally Ill / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forensic Psychiatry* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Forensic Psychiatry* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Motivation*
  • Netherlands
  • Patient Compliance / psychology*
  • Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Dropouts / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Patient Dropouts / psychology*
  • Patient Dropouts / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Social Support