P0158 - Evaluation of “lost to follow up” in psychiatric outpatient clinic

Abstract

Lost to follow up in psychiatric practice represents a serious problem. Patients who are not cared often will worsen, are linked to more hospitalizations, risk of violence and higher cost for the community.

During three months we collect data of all new patients who were known from a psychiatric outpatient clinic located in the 14th district of Paris. We provide seven days a week free psychiatric care (medical, nurse and social consultations, treatment delivery, psychotherapy…). More than half of the nearly 2,700 annual outpatients are diagnosed with psychosis.

The future of 298 contacts with our structure has been studied.

1. - 209 first appointments have been given after a first contact. The non attendance rate of the 209 is 11%. Women and patients who have called by themselves without medical prescription are overrepresented in this first category of patients

2. - on the 185 attending patients, 167 were given an appointment with a psychiatrist. The non attendance rate is 13%. Men are overrepresented in this second category of patients

3. - on the 145 patients attending their appointment with the psychiatrist. 120 were given a second appointment with a psychiatrist. 6% of them did not attend it

We aim to set up a strategy to make the lost to follow up rate to decrease.

Simple actions that have shown evidence are now routinely implemented, as computerized traceability of patients' pathway, from the first contact to the follow-up.

Prevention aim of our mission for chronic disease: lost to follow up / lost of chance.