Non-attendance rate to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services outpatient clinics in Brunei.

Abang BENNETT and Rujiah LABAU

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Negara Brunei Darussalam.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Non-attendance rate of new referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services outpatient clinics worldwide can be as high as 28%.  This study aimed to assess the non-attendance rate of new referrals and the characteristics of the attendees and non-attendees to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services outpatient clinics in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of non-attendance of all new referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services outpatient clinics in Brunei. Data were obtained from the clinic records and appointment register. Results: Of the 101 referrals analysed, 19.8% did not attend their first appointment. Approximately 90% of the referrals were given appointments within 4 weeks of receiving the referral letters. Attendees to their first appointments were of older age groups (>13 years old) and majority were male. Attendance to first appointment was significantly associated with shorter appointment dates of within 4 weeks (p=0.0388). The initial non-attendance rate was further reduced to 9.9% when those who were eventually seen at a rescheduled date were considered. Conclusion: The non-attendance rate of first appointment to our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services outpatient clinics is within the acceptable reported range but decreased further to below 10% when considering attendance to subsequent rescheduled appointment. Teenage male patients with appointment dates within 4 weeks are more likely to attend their appointments.

Keywords: Adolescent, Child, Mental Health Services, Non-Attendance, Referral

Corresponding author: Abang Bennett. MBBS, MPM, Pg. Dip. Child Adol. Psych, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Email: tbennet53@yahoo.com

Brunei Int Med J. 2019;15:91-94