Socioeconomic factors that impact patient no-shows in the ambulatory urology clinic

Abstract

This study seeks to identify patient socioeconomic factors that may be associated with no-shows to our academic urology clinics. This was a retrospective analysis of patient attendance to appointments scheduled at the main urology clinics of our academic center between April 2018 and April 2019. Attendance to scheduled appointments was computed and analyzed with respect to patients’ demographics and socioeconomic status, along with clinic site, type of provider scheduled with, and reason for visit. Chi-square test and simple and multiple logistic regression were performed in order to determine the relationship between patient no-show rates and the variables for appointment characteristics. The cohort of patients at highest risk for no-show was associated with those who were uninsured (OR = 30.00, 95% CI: 23.73-–7.92; p < 0.0001) and from our county’s urban sector (OR = 1.96, 95% CI:1.63–2.37; p < 0.0001), in which the population reported a household income of 30% below poverty level and was only one-third high-school educated. Further studies of this at-risk population who are likeliest to miss their urology clinic appointment may appropriately address these patients’ needs and thus curtail the number of no-shows to future outpatient appointments.