Hastaların Poliklinik Randevularına Gitmeme Nedenleri ile Belirleyicileri: Bir Üniversite Hastanesi Örneği

Abstract

Patients not attending appointments is a common problem faced by hospital administrators and clinicians. The aim of this study is to determine the reasons and determinants of patients who have made an outpatient clinic appointment in a university hospital and to measure the participation level of the patients in the measures that can be taken against non-attendance. The number of patients who received an appointment from outpatient clinics in 1-year period between October 2018-September 2019 at Hitit University Erol Olçok Training and Research Hospital in Çorum, where the study was conducted, was used to determine the sample size. The validity and reliability analysis of the questionnaire developed to be used in generating the data in the study was performed and 795 questionnaire have been conducted to patients who did not attend their appointments. SPSS 23.0 program has used for the analysis of the statistical tests in accordance with the data obtained. The analysis reveals that, the rate of outpatient non-attendance in January-February 2020 was 16.2%. Male patients, those aged 20-39, those who are single, and those who made an appointment from a pediatric or dental outpatient clinic has associated with higher probability of non-attendance. Considering the reasons for non-attendance; forgetting, being in another place, taking care of family, thinking that the health problem has improved are the leading causes. It has been observed that gender, age, marital status, education level, income, employment status, residential area, the outpatient clinic and the duration of making an appointment are effective in determining the reasons for non-attendance and these features also affect the level of participation in the dimensions (informing, sanctioning, improving) of the measures for reducing non-attendance. It is thought that the findings obtained from the study will help to better understand the problem of absenteeism and will guide health managers and policy makers.