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https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1637
Full metadata record
DC Field | Value | Language |
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dc.contributor.author | Edwards, Nathan | - |
dc.contributor.author | Cini, David | - |
dc.contributor.author | Caruana Dingli, Gordon | - |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-02-20T14:32:09Z | - |
dc.date.available | 2015-02-20T14:32:09Z | - |
dc.date.issued | 2014 | - |
dc.identifier.citation | Malta Medical Journal. 2014, Vol.26(2), p. 15-17 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/1637 | - |
dc.description.abstract | Non-attendance at hospital outpatient clinics is a longstanding issue that has potentially serious clinical implications, and contributes a significant financial burden to health care services. The aims of this study were to identify the rate of non-attendance at a surgical outpatients clinic in Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, ascertain the reasons for non-attendance, and to identify patients’ opinions on the implementation of a text-messaging reminder system as a means of reducing the non- attendance rate. Four outpatient clinics were observed over one month and the total number of appointments documented. Non-attenders were contacted via telephone call and asked to explain their non-attendance and whether a text-messaging reminder system may have increased their likelihood of attendance. Of the 266 appointments (217 females, 49 males, mean age 56 + 16 years), 80 patients failed to turn up, representing a 30% non-attendance rate. The main reasons for non-attendance were forgetfulness (53%), and unawareness of the appointment (26%). 90% of non-attenders stated that a text-messaging reminder might have prevented them missing their appointment, with 97% suggesting that such as system would be an acceptable method of trying to reduce this problem. Thus application of a text- messaging reminder system represents a potential solution for reducing the high rate of missed outpatient appointments, which is both cost effective and well accepted by patients. | en_GB |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Malta Medical Journal | en_GB |
dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | en_GB |
dc.subject | Medical care -- Finance | en_GB |
dc.subject | Patient care | en_GB |
dc.subject | Outpatients -- Surgery -- Medical audit | en_GB |
dc.title | A prospective audit examining non-attendance at a surgical outpatients clinic in Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, and methods to reduce this problem | en_GB |
dc.type | article | en_GB |
dc.rights.holder | The copyright of this article belongs to the Editorial Board of the Malta Medical Journal. The Malta Medical Journal’s rights in respect of this work are as defined by the Copyright Act (Chapter 415) of the Laws of Malta or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this full-text article and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Act provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder. This article has been reproduced with the authorization of the editor of the Malta Medical Journal (Ref. No 000002). | en_GB |
dc.description.reviewed | peer-reviewed | - |
Appears in Collections: | MMJ, Volume 26, Issue 2 MMJ, Volume 26, Issue 2 Scholarly Works - FacM&SSur |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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2014.Vol26.Issue2.A3.pdf | A prospective audit examining non-attendance at a surgical outpatients clinic in Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, and methods to reduce this problem | 452.12 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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