Factors Associated with Reasons for Missed Dental Appointments among Dental Service Recipients at a Community Hospital, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

Background: Missed dental appointments represent a significant challenge that compromises the efficiency of healthcare services by wasting personnel resources, time, and operational costs, while also disrupting the continuity of care. Understanding the characteristics and factors associated with missed appointments is essential for enhancing appointment management systems. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and reasons for missed dental appointments and to analyze the factors associated with these reasons among dental service recipients at a community hospital in Phatthalung Province.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed data from the outpatient dental records of 229 individuals who received dental services and had a history of missed appointments between July 2022 and March 2023. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum, were used for data analysis. The chi-square test was applied to evaluate associations between variables, with the significance level established at .05.

Results: Among the participants, 33.2% were aged 60 years or older, and 87.3% had missed one appointment. A majority, 62.9%, were enrolled in the Universal Coverage Scheme within the service area. Periodontal treatment was the most frequently missed service, representing 25.3% of cases. The primary reason for missed appointments was being busy (28.8%), followed by illness (22.7%), feeling better (16.2%), and forgetting the appointment date (12.7%). A statistically significant association was found between the health insurance scheme and the reasons for missed appointments (χ² = 95.420, p < .001). Other factors, such as age, sex, type of dental service, and the number of missed appointments, did not show a statistically significant association with the reasons for missed appointments.

Conclusion: The findings indicate an association between the health insurance scheme and the reasons for missed dental appointments, whereas other variables did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship. Given that this retrospective study included only patients with a history of missed appointments, the results should be interpreted within the context of the available medical record data. The implementation of effective reminder systems, follow-up procedures, and enhanced appointment management processes may contribute to a reduction in missed appointments and an improvement in the efficiency of dental services.