Investigation into the timely return visit rates after first interview in adolescent clients to the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital

Objective: To investigate the timely return visit rates after first visits of adolescent clients to the psychiatric outpatient clinic in a general hospital and analyze the relevant factors. Methods: All adolescent clients firstly visited psychiatric outpatient clinic of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May to October 2018 were surveyed. The timely return visit was defined as the return visit within one month after the first visit and the timely return visit rate (RVR) was calculated. Chi-square test and binary Logistic regression were used to compare the RVR subgroup differences and relevant factors. Reasons for non-attendance at the return visit were acquired by the telephone follow-up. Results: A total of 1 121 cases were enrolled, with an age of (16.0±1.6) years, 85.8% of them were students, and the overall RVR was 62.7% (703/1 121). The highest RVR was found in those who hoped for drug treatment (69.8%) and the lowest in those who did not accept drug treatment (55.8%) (χ(2)=9.028, P=0.029). The highest RVR was found in hospitalized patients (97.6%), followed by outpatient pharmacotherapy group (61.2%) and keeping observation and self-adjustment group (45.3%) (χ(2)=82.269, P<0.001). The RVR of patients prescribed mood stabilizers was significantly higher than that of non-users (χ(2)=9.498, P=0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed the main factors that affect the timely return visit included treatment regimens and prescribing of mood stabilizers. Results of telephone follow-up of clients with non-attendance showed that the main reasons were symptoms alleviation (68.4%) and various visiting barriers (14.3%). Conclusions: Clients with active attitude towards pharmacotherapy, hospitalization and using mood stabilizers in outpatient have higher RVR rates. Insufficient understanding of systemic therapy remains the main reason why the clients fail to attend the return visit in time.