The "No-Show" Phenomenon and the Issue of Resistance Among African American Female Patients at an Urban Health Care Center.

MENTAL health; WOMEN patients; AFRICAN American women; MEDICAL centers; MEDICAL appointments; PHYSICIAN-patient relations

Using data from 90 African American female medical and mental health patients, this exploratory study examined the reasons patients missed scheduled appointments at a low-income, urban healthcare center. Results indicated a clear difference between the two groups in their appointment-keeping behavior. Mental health no-show patients were more likely than medical no-show patients to cite external factors such as a broken-down car or a scheduling conflict to explain missed appointments. The article also presents a discussion of resistance and its possible role in the no-show phenomenon. Implications and recommendations for future research are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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