no-show rate
The percentage of scheduled mental health appointments at which the patient does not attend and does not provide advance cancellation notice.
Full Definition
In community psychiatry programme management, the no-show rate is a key performance metric used to assess service access, engagement, and clinical continuity. It is calculated by dividing the number of unattended appointments by the total number of scheduled appointments over a given period, typically expressed as a percentage. Editors will encounter the term in quality improvement reports, grant progress reports, and care coordination documentation. The compound noun is hyphenated when used as a modifier ('no-show appointment,' 'no-show rate') but should not be confused with 'cancelled appointment' (client provided notice) or 'late cancellation' (cancelled within a defined window). Policies often define 'no-show' with a specific time threshold, so editors should not assume a universal definition.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate. Do not conflate with 'DNA rate,' which is the UK equivalent but may be unfamiliar to US audiences. Define locally in reports that will have mixed national readership.
In Context
- "The programme's no-show rate dropped from 34% to 18% after reminder calls were implemented 48 hours before each appointment." — Quality improvement report
- "When editing tables, confirm that 'no-show rate' and 'cancellation rate' are presented as separate metrics and not combined." — Data report editorial note