Brief Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2009; 15(23): 2882-2886
Published online Jun 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2882
Factors associated with patient absenteeism for scheduled endoscopy
Victor K Wong, Hong-Bin Zhang, Robert Enns
Victor K Wong, Robert Enns, St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6Z-2K5, BC, Canada
Hong-Bin Zhang, Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6Z-2K5, BC, Canada
Author contributions: Wong VK and Enns R contributed to drafting of the article; Enns R contributed to the conception and design of the study and revision of the article, and Zhang HB contributed to statistical analysis of the data.
Correspondence to: Dr. Robert Enns, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, #770-1190 Hornby St., Vancouver V6Z-2K5, BC, Canada. renns@interchange.ubc.ca
Telephone: +1-604-6886332-222
Fax: +1-604-6892004
Received: January 18, 2009
Revised: May 11, 2009
Accepted: May 18, 2009
Published online: June 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To identify risk factors to help predict which patients are likely to fail to appear for an endoscopic procedure.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, chart review, cohort study in a Canadian, tertiary care, academic, hospital-based endoscopy clinic. Patients included were: those undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy and patients who failed to appear were compared to a control group. The main outcome measure was a multivariate analysis of factors associated with truancy from scheduled endoscopic procedures. Factors analyzed included gender, age, waiting time, type of procedure, referring physician, distance to hospital, first or subsequent endoscopic procedure or encounter with gastroenterologist, and urgency of the procedure.

RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-four patients did not show up for their scheduled appointment. Compared to a control group, factors statistically significantly associated with truancy in the multivariate analysis were: non-urgent vs urgent procedure (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06, 2.450), referred by a specialist vs a family doctor (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.31, 5.52) and office-based consult prior to endoscopy vs consult and endoscopic procedure during the same appointment (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.33, 3.78).

CONCLUSION: Identifying patients who are not scheduled for same-day consult and endoscopy, those referred by a specialist, and those with non-urgent referrals may help reduce patient truancy.

Keywords: Absenteeism; Colonoscopy; Endoscopy; Esophagogastroduodenoscopy; Gastroenterologist