Non-attendance of occupational therapy and physiotherapy appointments at a Western Cape rehabilitation centre: A description of associated factors

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational therapists and physiotherapists use outpatient follow-up appointments to continue and monitor the
effectiveness and outcome of therapy interventions. Attendance of follow-up appointments is essential, as non-attendance has negative
implications for both the patient and the healthcare facility.
Methodology: This retrospective, cross-sectional study made use of a period sample of all outpatients with scheduled appointments
between January and December 2017 (n = 837) at the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC). Children under the age of 18
years were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the identified variables of the sample. Logistic regression was used to
determine the adjusted odds ratio for the association between non-attendances and identified covariates.
Results: The sample population of 837 patients, included 516 attenders and 321 non-attenders. Factors that had an association
with non-attendance included hospital classification, diagnostic category and impairment according to ICD 10 coding (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: This article describe factors associated with non-attendance of outpatients to scheduled occupational therapy and
physiotherapy appointments at the WCRC. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for non-attendance at institutions such
as WCRC which will assist in the implementation of strategies to reduce high non-attendance rates.

Key words: non-attendance, occupational and physiotherapy appointments, outpatient appointments