Journal of Dental Research, Vol 56, 1071-1076, Copyright © 1977 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
A study of "broken appointment" patients in a children's hospital dental clinic
R. C. Fazio and J. Boffa
Part I of this study investigated possible variables determining "High Risk
No Show" behavior on the part of patients in a dental clinic. Only "source
of payment" seemed important; namely, that Medicaid patients were
statistically more likely to be "High Risk No Show" patients (P less than
.001). Race was associated but was found to be confounded with Medicaid. In
an attempt to investigate the reasons for the Medicaid group being "High
Risk No Show" patients, Part II of the study compared three distinct groups
of patients at the Children's Hospital Medical Center Clinic. These
included the self-paying group and the Medicaid group of the original
sample of 90 in addition to the Union plan group (patients receiving free
third-party payment care as an employee benefit). It was shown that both
groups with third-party coverage were associated with "High Risk No Show"
behavior. The type of "No Show" behavior, however, was different for the
two groups. Union plan patients tended to cancel appointments or at least
notify in advance of inability to keep an appointment. Medicaid patients,
conversely, were just as likely to fail appointments and not file advance
notice of inability to keep an appointment.
