Discovering patterns in outpatient neurology appointments using state sequence analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Outpatient services in the UK, and in particular outpatient neurology services, are under considerable pressure with an ever-increasing gap between capacity and demand. To improve services, we first need to understand the current situation. This study aims to explore the patterns of appointment type seen in outpatient neurology, in order to identify potential opportunities for change.

Methods

We use State Sequence Analysis (SSA) on routinely collected data from a single neurology outpatient clinic. SSA is an exploratory methodology which allows patterns within sequences of appointments to be discovered. We analyse sequences of appointments for the 18 months following a new appointment. Using SSA we create groups of similar appointment sequence patterns, and then a

SUBMITTER: Biggin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10626691 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature