Patient absenteeism in outpatient consultations: an integrative literature review.

Simone Cristina Paixão Dias Baptista,Stella Godoy Silva E Lima,Luana Bassetto Martin,Marina Ramos Cirne,Carmen Maria Casquel Monti Juliani,Karen Aline Batista Da Silva

doi:10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2020-0380

Simone Cristina Paixão Dias Baptista, Stella Godoy Silva E Lima + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2020-0380

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Abstract

To identify and analyze the production of knowledge in national and international literature on patient absenteeism in scheduled medical consultations. This is an integrative literature review in the databases PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline, LILACS, Virtual Health Library of the São Paulo State Department of Health and Spanish Bibliographic Index in Health Sciences, accessed through the Virtual Health Library Portal, based on the guiding question. A total of 767 articles was found and nine were selected. Forgetfulness predominated among the reasons for absence. Other findings regarding the cost to the health service and strategies for solving the problem are highlighted. As the focus of the studies, the concern with the quality of care, increased treatment queues and high demand, as well as the cost of absent patients, are evident. Despite the relevance of the theme for the health services organization, the literature is still scarce.

Highlights

The Brazilian 1988 Federal Constitution defines “Health as a right of everyone and the State’s obligation”
For a better understanding of this organization, it is necessary to know absenteeism in services of different complexities, considering that the articulation of the levels of care begins with the entry into the Public Health Service, according to Ordinance 2436
Absenteeism in consultations usually leads to losses for patients, such as the increase in waiting lines and idleness in the use of resources previously organized to meet the demand of people scheduled and who do not go to the consultation

Summary

Introduction

The Brazilian 1988 Federal Constitution defines “Health as a right of everyone and the State’s obligation”. The Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) is based on comprehensive health care, with universal, equal, and free access to health in the country[1], and the opportunity to access the service is a preponderant factor in achieving comprehensiveness in order to promote, protect and restore health[2]. To improve the health system, the organization of the Health Care Network (RAS) is recommended, aiming to promote the integration of services at the different levels of care and to offer quality care, which includes comprehensiveness and humanized actions, with equality and clinical and economic efficacy[3]. For a better understanding of this organization, it is necessary to know absenteeism in services of different complexities, considering that the articulation of the levels of care begins with the entry into the Public Health Service, according to Ordinance 2436. Preservation and guarantee of SUS’s principles are the responsibility of its managers, in the different spheres of government – municipal, state or federal[2]

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