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 nonattendance 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.
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Pang, A.H.T., Lum, F.C.K., Ungvari, G.S. et al. A prospective outcome study of patients missing regular psychiatric outpatient appointments. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 31, 299–302 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00787924
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00787924