Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34565364›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2021

Educational associations with missed GP appointments for patients under 35 years old: administrative data linkage study.

Ross McQueenie, David A Ellis, Michael Fleming, Philip Wilson, Andrea E Williamson

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Understanding access to general practice through the lens of candidacy: a critical review of the literature.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Inclusion health and missingness in health care: dig where you stand.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2023
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ross McQueeniePublic Health Scotland, NHS Scotland, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK.
David A EllisSchool of Management, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
Michael FlemingPublic Health, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, MVLS, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK.
Philip WilsonCentre for Rural Health, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3JH, UK.
Andrea E WilliamsonGeneral Practice and Primary Care, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, MVLS, University of Glasgow, 1 Horselethill Road, Glasgow, G12 9LX, UK. andrea.williamson@glasgow.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-8981-9068

Funding

Chief Scientist Office CZH/4/1118
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is an evidence gap about whether levels of engagement with public services such as schools and health care affect people across the lifespan. Data on missed patient appointments from a nationally representative sample of Scottish general practices (GP) (2013-2016) were probabilistically linked to secondary school pupil data. We tested whether school attendance, exclusions (2007-2011) or lower educational attainment (2007-2016) was associated with an increased risk of missing general practice appointments.

methodsSchool attendance data were classified into quartiles of possible days attended for years we had data. School exclusions were derived as a categorical variable of 'ever excluded'. Attainment data were categorised via the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 3 or 6; a cumulative measure of attainment on leaving school. The associations between school attendance, exclusions and attainment and risk of missing medical appointments were investigated using negative binomial models, offset by number of GP appointments made and controlling for potential confounders.

results112,534 patients (all aged under 35) had GP appointment and retrospective school attendance and exclusion data, and a subset of 66,967 also had attainment data available. Patients who had lower attendance, had been excluded from school or had lower educational attainment had an increased risk of missing GP appointments (all rate ratios > 1.40).

conclusionsThis study provides the first evidence from a population-representative sample in a high-income country that increased numbers of missed appointments in health care are associated with reduced school attendance, higher levels of school exclusion and lower educational attainment. Insights into the epidemiology of missingness across public services can support future research, policy and practice that aim to improve healthcare, health outcomes and engagement in services.

Indexed as

Appointments and SchedulesGeneral PracticeAdultAgedHumansInformation Storage and RetrievalRetrospective StudiesSchoolsEducation attainmentEducation attendanceEngagement in health careGeneral practiceLife courseMissed appointmentsPrimary carePublic healthSchool exclusions

Identifiers

PMID34565364
PMCPMC8474859

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.