Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39969764›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Prevalence and Predictors of Missed Appointments Within an Outpatient Behavioral Clinic for Autistic Children.

Summer Bottini, Laura Johnson, Makayla McGinnis, Mindy Scheithauer

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Summer BottiniMarcus Autism Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. summer.bottini@choa.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2462-8719
Laura JohnsonEmory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Makayla McGinnisMarcus Autism Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Mindy ScheithauerMarcus Autism Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Missed appointments are detrimental to the healthcare system and to the clients themselves. Autistic youth may be particularly impacted due to unique service needs and limited services available within the system. To date, there is limited literature specific to treatment attendance in autistic populations receiving behavioral services. This study examines prevalence, predictors of, and reasons for missed appointments in an outpatient clinic specializing in addressing behavioral concerns. This retrospective case review examines missed appointments in a sample of 306 autistic youths from an outpatient clinic from 2019 to 2022. An average of 5.2 appointments were cancelled and 9.0 were completed, resulting in an average individual cancellation rate of 38%. Statistically significant predictors of no shows and patient cancellations were younger age and a post-COVID appointment. The most common reasons for missed appointments was sickness, scheduling conflict, insurance authorization issues, and family emergency. Missed appointments may be common in outpatient behavioral settings for autistic youth. Resolving issues related to cancellations (e.g., sleep concerns), identifying families in need of targeted support strategies (e.g., assistance and flexibility with scheduling, transportation support), and advocating for systemic change may help meet the multifaceted needs of this population.

Indexed as

Ambulatory Care FacilitiesAppointments and SchedulesAutism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderNo-Show PatientsAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceRetrospective StudiesCancellationsMissed appointmentsNo showsOutpatient appointments

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

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.