Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interventions for reducing missed initial appointments at a community mental health center

  • Articles
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study attempted to reduce the initial appointment no-show rates at a CMHC through the use of several intervention techniques. One hundred-fifty individuals who called for an intake appointment were randomly assigned to either a control group or one of the following experimental groups: letter prompt received one day before appointment, letter prompt received three days before appointment, orientation letter received one day before appointment or orientation letter received three days before appointment. Individuals assigned to the one day orientation group had significantly lower no-show rates than individuals assigned to the control group (17% vs. 43%). The other groups were not significantly different from the control group. The effectiveness of the one day orientation letter for reducing no-show rates and its application at a CMHC was discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acosta, F.X. (1980). Self-described reasons for premature termination of psychotherapy by Mexican-American, Black American, and Anglo-American patients.Psychological Reports 47. 435–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baekeland, F., & Lundwall, L. (1975). Dropping out of treatment: A critical review.Psychological Bulletin, 82. 738–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brigg, E., & Mudd, E. (1968). An exploration of methods to reduce broken first appointments.The Family Coordinator, 17, 41. 41–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgoyne, R.W., Acosta, F.X. & Yomamoto, J. (1983). Telephone prompting to increase attendance at a psychiatric clinic.American Journal of Psychiatry, 140:3. 345–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, P.J., Morrow, G.R., DelGaudio, A.C., & Ritzler, B.A. (1981). Who keeps the first appointment?American Journal of Psychiatry, 138:1. 102–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chameides, W.A., & Yamamoto, J. (1973). Referral failures: A one-year follow up.American Journal of Psychiatry, 30 1157–1158.

    Google Scholar 

  • DelGaudio, A.C., Carpenter, P.J., Stein, L.S., & Morrow, G. (1977). Characteristics of patients completing referrals from an emergency department to an outpatient clinic.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 18, 301–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Errera, P., Davenport, P., & Decker, L. (1965). Pre-intake dropout in a psychiatric clinic.Mental Hygiene, 49, 558–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernbach, R., (1974). Preparation of clients for individual psychotherapy using a written document to orient expectations and indicate appropriate behaviors.Dissertation Abstract International, 35, 6092-B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, P.C. (1983). The effects of exposure to a pamphlet about the therapeutic process on attendance of adult outpatients at an urban community mental center.Dissertation Abstract International, 44:12. 3635-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaines, T. (1978). Factors influencing failure to show for a family evaluation.International Journal of Family Counseling, 6. 57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfield, S.L. (1963). A note on patients' reasons for terminating therapy.Psychological Reports, 13, 38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfield, S.L. (1978). Research on client variables in psychotherapy. In A.E. Bergin & S.L. Garfield, (Eds.)Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrison,J.E. (1978) Written vs. Verbal preparation of patients for group psychotherapy.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 15:2. 130–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieves, R.E. (1978). An analysis of service delay and client variables as they relate to mental health center pre-therapy dropout.Dissertation Abstract International, 34, 2126-B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottesfeld, H., & Martinez, H. (1972). The first psychiatric interview: Patients who do not come.Psychological Reports, 31, 776–778.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, R.L., Paulson, I., & Daniel-Epps, L. (1970). Patients who flirt with treatment: The silent population.American Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 39:4, 494–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen, L.D., Beck, N.C., Kunce, J.T. & Heisler, G.H. (1983). Facilitating psychiatric patient follow-up: A study of transfer attrition.Journal of Psychology, 39:4. 494–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochstadt, N.J., & Trybula, J. (1980) Reducing missed initial appointments in a community mental health center.Journal of Community Psychology, 8, 261–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoehn-Saric, R., Frank, J.D., Imber, S.D., Nash, E.H., Stone, A.R. & Battle, C.C. (1964). Systematic preparation of patients for psychotherapy-I Effects on therapy behavior and outcome.Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2, 267–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A.E. (1977).The token economy: A review and evaluation. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kluger, M.P., & Karras, A. (1983). Strategies for reduced missed initial appointments in a community mental health center.Community Mental Health Journal, 19. 137–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, M.S., (1966). Comparative effects on continuance of four experimental intake procedures.Social Casework, 47, 515–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, D.L., Nguyen, T.D., Green, R.S., & Attkisson, C.C. (1983). Enhancing the utilization of outpatient mental health services.Community Mental Health Journal, 19:4 305–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, J.L., Stolz, J.A., & Lacks, P., (1983). Preparing psychotherapy clients: Rationale and suggestions.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 14:3, 317–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowman, R.L., DeLange, W.H., Roberts, T.K. & Brady, C.P. (1984). Users and teasers: Failure to follow through with initial mental health services inquiries in a child and family treatment center.Journal of Community Psychology, 12. 253–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nazarian, L.F., Mechaber, J., Charney, E., & Coulter, M.P. (1974). Effects of a mail appointment reminder on appointment keeping.Pediatrics, 53:3. 349–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noonan, J.R. (1973). A follow-up of pretherapy dropouts.Journal of Community Psychology, 1. 43–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Overall, B. & Aronson, H. (1963). Expectations of psychotherapy in patients of lower socioeconomic class.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 33. 421–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pekarik, G. (1983). Improvement in clients who have given different reasons for dropping out of treatment.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39, 909–913.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynes, A.E., & Warren, G. (1971a). Some characteristics of “dropouts” at first contact with a psychiatric clinic.Community Mental Health Journal, 7, 144–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynes, A.E., & Warren, G. (1971b). Some distinguishing features of patients failing to attend a psychiatric clinic after referral.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 41. 581–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reese, B.D. (1979). Reducing the pretherapy dropout rate at a community mental center: A pilot program.Dissertation Abstracts International, 39. 4593-B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, F. (1977). The efficacy of verbal pre-therapy information and videotape modeling as related to client therapeutic outcome and dropout rate.Dissertation Abstract International, 38, 5277-B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, C.M., & Raynes, A.E. (1973). Dropouts from treatment.Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 18, 229–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, A.O., & Lacey, C.M. (1961). Characteristics of terminators and remainers in child guidance treatment.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 25. 420–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saltzman, C. (1984). Variables related to premature termination in university counseling services: A comment on Roldolfa, Rapaport, and Lee.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 31:3. 402–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, R.J., & Budman, S.H. (1973). Defection, termination, and continuation in family and individual therapy.Family Process, 12. 55–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smart, R.G., & Gray, G. (1978). Multiple predictors of dropout from alcoholism treatment.Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 363–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, S., McKinney, H.L., & Allen, D.B. (1976). Predictors of the duration of treatment for clients in the community mental health system.Community Mental Health Journal, 12. 365–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, S., McKinney, H.L., Allen, D.B., & Hall, J. (1974). Delivery of community mental health services to black and white clients.

  • Turner, A.J., & Vernon, J.C. (1976). Prompts to increase attendance in a community mental health center.Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 9. 141–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weighill, V.E., Hodge, J.T., & Peck, D.F. (1983). Keeping appointments with clinical psychologists.British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 22. 143–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkower, A.B. (1981). Influence of intake procedures on applicant attrition at a community mental health center.Dissertation Abstract International, 41:12. 4698-B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolkon, G.H. (1972). Crisis theory, the application for treatment, and dependency.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 13:5, 459–463.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washburn University, Topeka, USA

    Thomas R. Swenson M.A. & Gene Pekarik Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Thomas R. Swenson M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gene Pekarik Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Swenson, T.R., Pekarik, G. Interventions for reducing missed initial appointments at a community mental health center. Community Ment Health J 24, 205–218 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757138

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757138

Keywords

Search

Navigation