Appointment-keeping behavior in adolescents.

Adolescent appointment-keeping behavior was investigated prospectively in 245 first-scheduled appointments in a general youth clinic within a pediatric ambulatory setting, to determine if older adolescents were more compliant when they made their appointments and less compliant when their appointments were made by their parents. Among single variables (age, sex, and who made the appointment), rates of kept appointments varied considerably. The highest rates of compliance were found in males, under the age of 15, whose parents made the appointment. The lowest rates were found in females, over the age of 15, who made their own appointment. A multiple regression analysis was used to determine which of the variables was most important in predicting compliance. The most important factor was appointment source. Whether parents make the appointment for their sons and daughters (irrespective of age) was the most important predictor of compliance, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in scheduling appointments.