Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T07:37:44.500Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Demographic factors associated with loss to follow up in the management of chronic otitis media: case–control study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2015

R Nash ,
R Fox ,
R Srinivasan ,
A Majithia  and
A Singh
R Nash*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
R Fox
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
R Srinivasan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
A Majithia
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
A Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Robert Nash, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, London HA1 3UJ, UK E-mail: mr.robert.nash@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

The likelihood of a patient attending regular follow up can affect decision making when planning and performing tympanomastoid surgery. This study investigated whether demographic factors were associated with loss to follow up.

Methods:

A database of patients who had been investigated and treated for chronic otitis media was searched. Patients lost to follow up and a matching sample of patients who were formally discharged were identified. The demographic factors of age, sex and postcode were compared between the two groups. The information collected was also used to provide measures of deprivation.

Results:

Fifty patients in each group were identified. Patients lost to follow up were significantly younger than patients formally discharged (p < 0.02), and were more likely to live in an area of education and training deprivation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Younger patient age, and living in an area of education and training deprivation, are associated with a higher incidence of loss to follow up.

Keywords

Otitis MediaOutpatient Clinics, HospitalHealth Facility Administration
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 2 , February 2016 , pp. 166 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Jung, TT, Alper, CM, Hellstrom, SO, Hunter, LL, Casselbrant, ML, Groth, A et al. Otitis media series. Panel 8: complications and sequelae. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013;148:E122–43CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Browning, GG. The unsafeness of ‘safe’ ears. J Laryngol Otol 1984;98:23–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Tsai, TL, Lien, CF, Guo, YC. The contralateral ear in patients with middle ear cholesteatoma after long-term follow-up. J Chin Med Assoc 2003;66:418–22Google ScholarPubMed
4Gristwood, RE, Venables, WN. Factors influencing the probability of residual cholesteatomas. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1990;99:120–3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Roger, G, Denoyelle, F, Chauvin, P, Schlegel-Stuhl, N, Garabedian, EN. Predictive risk factors of residual cholesteatoma in children: a study of 256 cases. Am J Otol 1997;18:550–8Google ScholarPubMed
6Gaillardin, L, Lescanne, E, Morinière, S, Cottier, JP, Robier, A. Residual cholesteatoma: prevalence and location. Follow-up strategy in adults. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2012;129:136–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government. The English Indices of Deprivation 2010. In: https:// www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6871/1871208.pdf [16 November 2015]Google Scholar
8UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government. The English Indices of Deprivation Data. In: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2010 [16 November 2015]Google Scholar
9UK Data Service: Census Support. Deprivation data. In: http://census.ukdataservice.ac.uk/get-data/related/deprivation [16 November 2015]Google Scholar
10Sajjadi, H. Endoscopic middle ear and mastoid surgery for cholesteatoma. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol 2013;25:63–70Google ScholarPubMed
11Nash, R, Kenway, B, Mochloulis, G. Are Saturday clinics associated with an increased ‘did not attend’ rate? Ann R Coll Surg Engl (Suppl) 2014;96:28–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Pal, B, Taberner, DA, Readman, LP, Jones, P. Why do outpatients fail to keep their clinic appointments? Results from a survey and recommended remedial actions. Int J Clin Pract 1998;52:436–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Thornton, R, Ballard, K. Why military personnel fail to keep medical appointments. J R Army Med Corps 2008;154:26–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Murdock, A, Rodgers, C, Lindsay, H, Tham, TC. Why do patients not keep their appointments? Prospective study in a gastroenterology outpatient clinic. J R Soc Med 2002;95:284–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed