The financial cost of missed appointments is so great that even a small percentage reduction in Did Not Attend (DNA) rate could save significant sums of money. Previous studies have identified many factors that predict DNA rate, including patient age, gender, and transport options. However, it is not obvious how healthcare providers can use this information to improve attendance, as such factor...

BACKGROUND Antiretroviral treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa have high rates of early mortality and loss to follow-up. Switching to second-line regimens is often delayed because of limited access to laboratory monitoring. METHODS Retrospective analysis was performed of a cohort of adults who initiated a standard first-line antiretroviral treatment at 5 public sector sites in 3 African c...

BACKGROUND Non-attendance at paediatric hospital outpatient appointments poses potential risks to children's health and welfare. Prevention and management of missed appointments depends on the perceptions of clinicians and decision makers from both primary and secondary care, including general practitioners (GPs) who are integral to non-attendance follow-up. OBJECTIVES To examine the views of...

BACKGROUND Missed appointments are known to interfere with appropriate care and to misspend medical and administrative resources. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a sequential intervention reminding patients of their upcoming appointment and to identify the profile of patients missing their appointments. METHODS We conducted a randomised controlled study in an urban prim...

OBJECTIVES To identify distinct patterns of glycemic control over early to middle adolescence, and to determine whether psychosocial variables predicted those patterns. METHODS We used trajectory analysis to examine glycemic control over 5 years among adolescents with type 1 diabetes who were of age 12 on average at study start (n = 132). Well-being, relationships, and self-care behavior were...

OBJECTIVE To assess the association of compliance with treatment (medication and clinic appointments) and all-cause mortality in people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data were extracted from U.K. general practice records and included patients (N = 15,984) who had diagnostic codes indicative of type 2 diabetes or who had received a prescription for an oral a...