Objective: To find the degree of non-attendance at scheduled consultations and associated factors, with the aim of introducing the necessary corrective measures.
Design: An analytic observational study.
Setting: Sillería Health Centre, Toledo.
Patients: People on a medical list with scheduled medical and/or nursing appointments over the period of a year.
Measurements and main results: There were 253 cases of non-attendance (13.16%) out of a total of 1,922 scheduled consultations. Different variables were analysed, with statistically significant results being found in user's age and profession (p < 0.01), season of the year (p = 0.00067), the number of previous appointments (p < 0.01) and the number of previous non-attendances (p < 0.001). A profile of the non-attender emerged as: a young person, unemployed or student, single or separated, with average or higher education and who makes an appointment for control of risk factors cardiovascular, to open a medical history or for pregnancy monitoring.
Conclusions: The level of attendance using present appointment methodology is acceptable. Nevertheless we believe a change of strategy, which would involve the community more both in preventive activities and in taking responsibility for their own attendance is needed.