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A prospective outcome study of patients missing regular psychiatric outpatient appointments.
- Source :
- Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology; Sep1996, Vol. 31 Issue 5, p299-302, 4p
- Publication Year :
- 1996
-
Abstract
- This paper describes a prospective follow-up study of defaulters of regular psychiatric outpatient appointments in Hong Kong. To establish outcome, 258 patients were traced 6 months after their non-attendance at a follow-up clinic. Results showed that 50% returned while the rest dropped out of treatment. The clinical and demographic variables, including employment, marriage, being seen by faculty rather than resident staff, a past history of default and shorter length of contact at the clinic studied (within a year), were all significant in predicting drop-out. There was a trend for those who reattended to have received a telephone reminder, to be a student and to be single. Out of the 129 drop-out patients, 84 were traced, 23 were admitted to hospital and 5 died. There were no deaths and only 5 patients required hospitalisation among the attenders. We concluded that active reengagement of psychiatric outpatient defaulters is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09337954
- Volume :
- 31
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 72158430
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00787924