The online outpatient booking system 'Choose and Book' improves attendance rates at an audiology clinic: a comparative audit.

BACKGROUND The 'Choose and Book' system provides an online booking service which primary care professionals can book in real time or soon after a patient's consultation. It aims to offer patients choice and improve outpatient clinic attendance rates. OBJECTIVE An audit comparing attendance rates of new patients booked into the Audiological Medicine Clinic using the 'Choose and Book' system with that of those whose bookings were made through the traditional booking system. METHODS Data accrued between 1 April 2008 and 31 October 2008 were retrospectively analysed for new patient attendance at the department, and the age and sex of the patients, method of appointment booking used and attendance record were collected. Patients were grouped according to booking system used - 'Choose and Book' or the traditional system. The mean ages of the groups were compared by a t test. The standard error of the difference between proportions was used to compare the data from the two groups. A P value of < or = 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS 'Choose and Book' patients had a significantly better rate of attendance than traditional appointment patients, P < 0.01 (95% CI 4.3, 20.5%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of sex, P > 0.1 (95% CI-3.0, 16.2%). The 'Choose and Book' patients, however, were significantly older than the traditional appointment patients, P < 0.001 (95% CI 4.35, 12.95%). CONCLUSION This audit suggests that when primary care agents book outpatient clinic appointments online it improves outpatient attendance.