Reasons for Non-Adherence to Rheumatology Consultation in Atertiary Care Hospital: Covid-19 Pandemic Consequence?

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the leading causes for non-adherence to rheumatology consults in a tertiary care hospital. Method(s) Patients who did not show up for their programmed consult were identified using the rheumatology service database, from January 2021 to July 2022, and they were contacted by telephone to determine reasons for their absence. Result(s) During 2021, we identified 2487 patients who did not show for their rheumatology consult. Sixty percent of patients referred that their absence was related to COVID-19 (38% were sick or in contact with a sick relative, and 22% were afraid of getting sick). Meanwhile, 40% mentioned different reasons 10% have economic problems, and 30% forgot their consult date. On the other hand, during January-July 2022 period, 1529 patients were identified as no shows for their rheumatology consult. Seventy percent of these patients satted that economic problems were the main cause (impossibility to pay for transportation, consultation, requested studies and/or treatment), while 15% said that they forgot about their appointment date, and the other 15% referred to a reason related to the pandemic (mostly, afraid of getting sick with COVID-19). Conclusion(s) The COVID-19 pandemic harmed consult adherence in rheumatology. Initially, this problem was caused by pandemic-related issues, however, reasons for these 'no shows' have changed, being more recently economic troubles the leading cause, which was induced by the pandemic.