Background

1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of SMS text messages as appointment reminders in the Pediatric Dental Setting Nelson TM*¹, Berg JH¹, Bell JF², Leggott PJ¹, Seminario AL¹ ¹Department of Pediatric Dentistry; ²Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Methods Results Background • No Show s affect Patients and Healthcare • Non-Attendees have higher morbidity • Non-Attendance increases healthcare cost • No-Show as a major reason for not seeing Medicaid patients • Text Messaging as a Predominant Method of Communication • 3.1 billion texts were sent in the US (2008), surpassing the number of calls • Individuals of low SES more likely to have cell phones only • Younger individuals (parents of young children) text more • Text messages are much more cost effective than voice reminders • The main goal of this is study was to determine the effectiveness of SMS text as a method of appointment reminder in The University of Washington (UW) Pediatric Dental Clinic Study Population: Caregiver/Child pairs (N=318) of the UW Pediatric Dental Clinic were randomly allocated to Voice Reminder (control group) or text message (intervention group) Procedure: Patients assigned to the SMS Text reminder group received a computer generated text message on their cell phone 48 hours prior to their appointment Data Analysis: Chi2 tests to compare the distribution of the study variables by appointment reminder type and by appointment status. Logistic regression to model appointment status as a function of reminder type and the study variables Critical value for all tests was established at 5% (α=0.05) Results Study population demographics by randomization group SMS Text Message Reminder Patients Were More Likely to No Show to Their Appointments: OR Adjusted for Caregiver Age = 2.12 Methods Study Design: Randomized controlled Trial Survey Administered N= 543 Conclusion Assessing for Eligibility • Excluded: • Did not meet eligibility criteria • Declined to participate • Text messages are not likely to be a good standard reminder in university-based Pediatric Dentistry clinics • In this study more participants would prefer a voice message reminder than a text message reminder • Future studies should investigate text in alternative settings, with self-selected patients, and as an adjunct reminder Enrollment N= 318 Random Allocation Mobile Phone Voice Reminder (N= 158) 48 hrs prior to apt SMS Text Reminder (N= 160) 48 hrs prior to apt Show/ No Show Show/ No Show Contact Information: Travis Nelson tmnelson@uw.edu