FAILED PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC APPOINTMENTS. RELATIONSHIP TO SOCIAL CLASS

Abstract

A study was made to determine what factors might be related to failure of patients to keep appointments at a county hospital psychiatric clinic. The hypothesis that the lowest status groups would have the poorest appointment records was substantiated in that they had the highest proportion of broken appointments without notification. Contrary to expectations, however, the highest status groups had poorer records than those in the central status groups-the skilled or semi-skilled workers and those with high school education. Marital status was also found to be related to appointment status, with divorced and separated persons displaying the greatest likelihood of breaking appointments without notifying the clinic.