Examining the Reasons for Patient No-Show in an Outpatient Adult Rehabilitation Department in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Patient no-show is a long-standing health issue that impacts the quality of healthcare services and resource utilization. No-show creates a financial burden on healthcare systems and adds to the patient waiting list. Aims: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of no-show and the most common underlying reasons among adult patients at the physiotherapy and occupational departments. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Adult Rehabilitation Department of King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Patients who failed to show up for their appointments were contacted via telephone. Data were collected using a telephonic questionnaire. Patient medical files were used to obtain demographic information and diagnoses. Results: During the study period, 336 patients did not show up to their appointments, representing 21% of the total appointments. Among the 336 patients, 140 were included in the study. The most common reason for no-show was being sick on the day of the appointment (24%). Other common reasons were living outside Riyadh or needing an ambulance for transportation (17%). The third most common reason was an inconvenient appointment time or date (15%). Conclusion: The study findings suggest that to overcome this problem, patient awareness must be increased regarding the fact that their absence from therapy sessions can negatively affect their health states, prolong their illness, and worsen their condition.