Factors predicting first appointment attendance at a traumatic brain injury clinical neuropsychology outpatient clinic: a logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to investigate factors which predicted first appointment attendance within a traumatic brain injury (TBI) neuropsychology outpatient department.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A newly introduced telephone triaging system was implemented in a clinical neuropsychology service for individuals with a TBI. The effects of receiving a triage telephone call, amongst other variables, were analysed as predictors of attendance at the first face-to-face clinic appointment. The data from 161 individuals were analysed using routine patient information collected by the clinical neuropsychology service. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate predictors of first appointment clinic attendance.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analyses identified higher age, shorter waiting times, and answering the triage call as potential predictors of attendance, highlighting where the service might focus efforts to facilitate attendance.

CONCLUSIONS

Both patient and service factors were found to be significant predictors of patient attendance. Further service evaluation could explore patients' experiences of triage telephone calls, and investigate relationships between waiting times and neuropsychological outcomes.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONIdentifying predictors of appointment attendance can allow the service to focus on the needs of particular patient groups.Implementing a telephone triage initiative had positive effects, both on waiting times and efficient use of face-to-face clinic time.The analysis highlighted the need to think about better ways of reaching out to younger individuals and those who have waited longer to attend appointments, who are less likely to attend once invited.