Attendance for Initial Assessment at a Back School Programme: Does the Name Given to the Programme have any Influence?

Abstract

This study investigated whether word association had any effect on response to invitations to attend an initial assessment for a back school programme. A total of 165 letters were sent out to prospective patients, 53 of whom did not attend for the assessment. Twenty-seven patients had been sent a letter inviting them to a programme called ‘Back Chat’ and 26 to a programme called ‘Back School’. The conclusion was that the name given to the programme in the introductory letter had no effect on attendance rates. Other factors are discussed as possibly more important in determining attendance for an initial assessment in this particular group of patients.