Full Text:   <3991>

CLC number: R19

On-line Access: 2024-08-27

Received: 2023-10-17

Revision Accepted: 2024-05-08

Crosschecked: 0000-00-00

Cited: 111

Clicked: 7092

Citations:  Bibtex RefMan EndNote GB/T7714

-   Go to

Article info.
1. Reference List
Open peer comments

Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B 2008 Vol.9 No.1 P.34-38

http://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B071464


Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial


Author(s):  Zhou-wen CHEN, Li-zheng FANG, Li-ying CHEN, Hong-lei DAI

Affiliation(s):  Department of General Practice, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China

Corresponding email(s):   dhl_2003@hotmail.com

Key Words:  Reminder, Short messaging service (SMS), Telephone, Failure to attend (FTA), Randomized controlled trial (RCT)


Zhou-wen CHEN, Li-zheng FANG, Li-ying CHEN, Hong-lei DAI. Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 2008, 9(1): 34-38.

@article{title="Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial",
author="Zhou-wen CHEN, Li-zheng FANG, Li-ying CHEN, Hong-lei DAI",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science B",
volume="9",
number="1",
pages="34-38",
year="2008",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/jzus.B071464"
}

%0 Journal Article
%T Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial
%A Zhou-wen CHEN
%A Li-zheng FANG
%A Li-ying CHEN
%A Hong-lei DAI
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
%V 9
%N 1
%P 34-38
%@ 1673-1581
%D 2008
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1631/jzus.B071464

TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial
A1 - Zhou-wen CHEN
A1 - Li-zheng FANG
A1 - Li-ying CHEN
A1 - Hong-lei DAI
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science B
VL - 9
IS - 1
SP - 34
EP - 38
%@ 1673-1581
Y1 - 2008
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1631/jzus.B071464


Abstract: 
Objective: To compare the efficacy of a short messaging service (SMS) text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance rates at a health promotion center. Methods: A total of 1 859 participants who had scheduled appointments in the health promotion center of our hospital from April 2007 to May 2007 were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned into 3 groups: control (no reminder) group, SMS text messaging reminder group and telephone reminder group. Attendance rates and costs of interventions were collected. Results: A total of 1848 participants were eligible for analysis. Attendance rates of control, SMS and telephone groups were 80.5%, 87.5% and 88.3%, respectively. The attendance rates were significantly higher in SMS and telephone groups than that in the control group, with odds ratio 1.698, 95% confidence interval 1.224 to 2.316, P=0.001 in the SMS group, and odds ratio 1.829, 95% confidence interval 1.333 to 2.509, P<0.001 in the telephone group. However, there was no difference between the SMS group and the telephone group (P=0.670). The cost effectiveness analysis showed that the cost per attendance for the SMS group (0.31 Yuan) was significantly lower than that for the telephone group (0.48 Yuan). Conclusion: SMS and telephone are effective reminders for improving attendance rate at a health promotion center. SMS reminder may be more cost-effective compared with the telephone reminder.

Darkslateblue:Affiliate; Royal Blue:Author; Turquoise:Article

Reference

[1] Battistotti, A., Quaglini, S., Cuoco, E., 2006. Reducing dropouts in outpatient care through an SMS-based system. Stud. Health Technol. Inf., 124:935-940.

[2] Can, S., Macfarlane, T., O'Brien, K.D., 2003. The use of postal reminders to reduce non-attendance at an orthodontic clinic: a randomised controlled trial. Br. Dent. J., 195(4):199-201 (Discussion in p.196).

[3] Downer, S.R., Meara, J.G., Da Costa, A.C., Sethuraman, K., 2006. SMS text messaging improves outpatient attendance. Aust. Health Rev., 30(3):389-396.

[4] Geraghty, M., Glynn, F., Amin, M., Kinsella, J., 2007. Patient mobile telephone ‘text’ reminder: a novel way to reduce non-attendance at the ENT out-patient clinic. J. Laryngol. Otol., 1:1-3.

[5] Haynes, J.M., Sweeney, E.L., 2006. The effect of telephone appointment-reminder calls on outpatient absenteeism in a pulmonary function laboratory. Respir. Care, 51(1):36-39.

[6] Irigoyen, M.M., Findley, S., Earle, B., Stambaugh, K., Vaughan, R., 2000. Impact of appointment reminders on vaccination coverage at an urban clinic. Pediatrics, 106(4 Suppl.):919-923.

[7] Jibaja-Weiss, M.L., Volk, R.J., Smith, Q.W., Holcomb, J.D., Kingery, P., 2005. Differential effects of messages for breast and cervical cancer screening. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 16(1):42-52.

[8] Lee, C.S., McCormick, P.A., 2003. Telephone reminders to reduce non-attendance rate for endoscopy. J. R. Soc. Med., 96(11):547-548.

[9] Leong, K.C., Chen, W.S., Leong, K.W., Mastura, I., Mimi, O., Sheikh, M.A., Zailinawati, A.H., Ng, C.J., Phua, K.L., Teng, C.L., 2006. The use of text messaging to improve attendance in primary care: a randomized controlled trial. Fam. Pract., 23(6):699-705. [doi:10.1093/fampra/cml044] Martin, C., Perfect, T., Mantle, G., 2005. Non-attendance in primary care: the views of patients and practices on its causes, impact and solutions. Fam. Pract., 22(6):638-643.

[10] Maxwell, S., Maljanian, R., Horowitz, S., Pianka, M.A., Cabrera, Y., Greene, J., 2001. Effectiveness of reminder systems on appointment adherence rates. J. Health Care Poor Underserved, 12(4):504-514.

[11] May, H., Hearn, G., 2005. The mobile phone as media. Int. J. Cult. Stud., 8(2):195-211.

[12] Mayer, J.A., Lewis, E.C., Slymen, D.J., Dullum, J., Kurata, H., Holbrook, A., Elder, J.P., Williams, S.J., 2000. Patient reminder letters to promote annual mammograms: a randomized controlled trial. Prev. Med., 31(4):315-322.

[13] Milne, R.G., Horne, M., Torsney, B., 2006. SMS reminders in the UK national health service: an evaluation of its impact on “no-shows” at hospital out-patient clinics. Health Care Manage Rev., 31(2):130-136.

[14] Murdock, A., Rodgers, C., Lindsay, H., Tham, T.C., 2002. Why do patients not keep their appointments? Prospective study in a gastroenterology outpatient clinic. J. R. Soc. Med., 95(6):284-286.

[15] Neal, R.D., Hussain-Gambles, M., Allgar, V.L., Lawlor, D.A., Dempsey, O., 2005. Reasons for and consequences of missed appointments in general practice in the UK: questionnaire survey and prospective review of medical records. BMC Fam. Pract., 6(1):47.

[16] Reti, S., 2003. Improving outpatient department efficiency: a randomized controlled trial comparing hospital and general-practice telephone reminders. N. Z. Med. J., 116(1175):U458.

[17] Roberts, N., Meade, K., Partridge, M., 2007. The effect of telephone reminders on attendance in respiratory outpatient clinics. J. Health Serv. Res. Policy, 12(2):69-72.

[18] Shoffner, J., Staudt, M., Marcus, S., Kapp, S., 2007. Using telephone reminders to increase attendance at psychiatric appointments: findings of a pilot study in rural Appalachia. Psychiatr. Serv., 58(6):872-875.

[19] Thomas, D., 2004. Postal reminders can improve attendance at orthodontic clinics. Evid. Based Dent., 5(1):14.

[20] Virtanen, V., Sirkiä, T., Jokiranta, V., 2007. Reducing nonresponse by SMS reminders in mail surveys. Soc. Sci. Comput. Rev., 25(3):384-395.

[21] Zailinawati, A.H., Ng, C.J., Nik-Sherina, H., 2006. Why do patients with chronic illnesses fail to keep their appointments? A telephone interview. Asia Pac. J. Public Health, 18(1):10-15.

Open peer comments: Debate/Discuss/Question/Opinion

<1>

Please provide your name, email address and a comment





Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, China
Tel: +86-571-87952783; E-mail: cjzhang@zju.edu.cn
Copyright © 2000 - 2024 Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE