Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: To determine the frequency and reasons for appointment nonattendance in a state hospital and a dental health center in a densely populated district of Türkiye, and to identify related factors to guide preventive measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients who scheduled appointments at Ankara Etimesgut State Hospital and Etimesgut Oral and Dental Health Center through the Centralized Patient Appointment System (Merkezi Hekim Randevu Sistemi; MHRS) in February 2024. Nonattendees were contacted in March 2024 to determine reasons for nonattendance. RESULTS: A total of 30,552 appointments were analyzed (1978 dental, 28,574 hospital). The overall nonattendance rate was 9.76%, with significantly higher rates in the dental center (23.8%) compared to the state hospital (2.2%) (p < 0.001). Males had higher nonattendance rates than females (4.04% versus 3.36%, p = 0.002), and the 19-45 age group showed the highest nonattendance (5.63%, p < 0.001). The most common reasons were forgetfulness (20.7%), scheduling conflicts (16.5%), and illness (13.8%). CONCLUSION: Appointment nonattendance is influenced by demographics and timing. Comprehensive reminder systems and flexible scheduling policies may effectively reduce nonattendance rates, particularly among young adults, thereby improving patient adherence and healthcare resource utilization.