Objective. To determine the factors influencing non-compliance with clinic appointments in diabetic patients at a Gauteng Hospital in 2007/2008

Setting. Diabetes clinics that offer more specialised outpatient care to adult patients with diabetes type 1 and 2. These clinics are at a secondary level hospital.

Design. A descriptive study was done where a convenience sample of consecutive non-compliant diabetic patients (n=76), was prospectively recruited for the study. A survey of the non-compliant patients was conducted using face-to-face interviews or telephone interviews. Patient demographics, reasons for non-compliance, perceived severity of diabetes, and perceived encouragement from others to attend was investigated.

Results. Of the 520 patients who had clinic appointments during the study period, 35% were not compliant. The mean age of the non-compliant patients was 51 years (range 18-85). All patients perceived diabetes to be a serious disease. Of the interviewed patients 83% perceived their health to be either good or excellent and 95% claimed that a clinic visit assisted them in managing their diabetes. Only 20% of the patients diarised the appointment dates while the rest simply used the appointment card given by the clinic. Patients had various reasons for not complying with clinic appointments; with forgetting being the most frequently mentioned response (22%).

Conclusion. Patient factors are very important in explaining non-compliance with clinic appointments. Not all the factors can be easily addressed by the clinic system alone but certainly reminders sent to patients may increase compliance of patients with clinic appointment.