The Importance of Facial Appearance in Patients With Eye Cancer

Brown, Nicola J (2002) The Importance of Facial Appearance in Patients With Eye Cancer. D Clin Psy thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Abstract

Objectives: To establish the distribution of waiting times for a sample of referrals, and to determine the impact of waiting time on attendance and non-attendance. Design: Data in relation to time waiting for an appointment was retrieved from a departmental database. The rates of attendance and non-attendance were established in relation to waiting times, and further analyses made. Setting: A West of Scotland adult department of Clinical Psychology. Subjects: All patients who were referred in a one-year period (1-1-98 to 31-12-98), and who had also been discharged at the time of data collection (April 2000): n=513 (57% female). Age range 18-99 years (mean 37.7 years). Results: 341 (66.5%) referrals were Attenders (those who had attended at least one appointment), and 172 (33.5%) referrals were Non-Attenders (those who had never attended). The range of waiting times was 0-51 weeks for Attenders, and 2-51 weeks for Non-Attenders. An independent samples t-test showed that the mean waiting time for Non-Attenders (27.4 weeks) was significantly higher (t=5.52, df=511, two-tailed p<0.01) than that for Attenders (21.2 weeks). Conclusions: The hypothesis that a shorter waiting time would be associated with higher rate of attendance, and a longer waiting time with a decreased rate of attendance was supported. The rate of non-attendance was approximately 20% for those seen within 0-4 weeks, increasing to over 50% for those waiting 35 weeks or more. If, following an evaluation of a recently introduced opt-in system, this pattern of waiting time and attendance continued, it is recommended that the department consider providing additional support for patients waiting 35 weeks or more, in order to try and increase the rate of attendance at this time.

Item Type: Thesis (D Clin Psy)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Additional Information: Adviser: Craig White
Keywords: Clinical psychology
Date of Award: 2002
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:2002-76193
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 16:29
Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 16:29
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/76193

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