Perceived characteristics of outpatient appointment scheduling association with patient satisfaction and treatment adherence: An innovation theory application.

Background: Despite the growing interest in Appointment scheduling (APS) in hospitals of developing countries, empirical assessment of their effectiveness in improving patients' experiences and adherence to treatment remains limited. We drew on the attributes of an innovation theory to hypothesize and test the extent to which perceived attributes of APS: relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity influences patient satisfaction and treatment adherence in a neurology clinic of a large Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data from a sample of 295 scheduled patients visiting the clinic for follow-up care.