Prevalence and Drivers of Missed Healthcare Appointments in Poland: Insights From a 2025 Survey

BACKGROUND Missed appointments (patient no-shows) are a critical challenge undermining healthcare system efficiency globally. This study aims to characterize the patient no-show phenomenon in Poland, identify factors associated with missed appointments, and propose potential measures to reduce the no-show phenomenon in the Polish healthcare system. MATERIAL AND METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted using computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI) from August 1 to 4, 2025. The study used quota sampling stratified by sex, age, and residence to obtain a nationwide sample of 1162 Polish adults aged 18 to 96 years. A self-prepared questionnaire was used. RESULTS Among all respondents, 88.5% used healthcare services within the previous 12 months. Among healthcare users (n=1014), 14% missed appointments without cancellation. Forgetting appointments (42.3%) and communication barriers (27.5%) were identified as the primary reasons for no-shows. Text message (SMS) reminder systems received 62.5% support, while 67.5% endorsed the implementation of a penalty fee for public system non-attendance. Multivariable analysis revealed significantly (P