Geraghty M, Glynn F, Amin M, Kinsella J
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Adelaide and Meath and The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
J Laryngol Otol. 2008 Mar;122(3):296-8. doi: 10.1017/S0022215107007906. Epub 2007 May 1.
Non-attendance at out-patient clinics is a seemingly intractable problem, estimated to cost 65 pounds sterling (97 euros) per incident. This results in under-utilisation of resources and prolonged waiting lists. In an effort to reduce out-patient clinic non-attendance, our ENT department, in conjunction with the information and communication technology department, instigated the use of a mobile telephone short message service ('text') reminder, to be sent out to each patient three days prior to their out-patient clinic appointment.
To audit non-attendance rates at ENT out-patient clinics following the introduction of a text reminder system.
Retrospective review.
Non-attendance at our institution's ENT out-patient clinics was audited, following introduction of a text message reminder system in August 2003. Rates of non-attendance were compared for the text message reminder group and a historical control group.
Before the introduction of the text message reminder system, the mean rate of non-attendance was 33.6 per cent. Following the introduction of the system, the mean rate of non-attendance reduced to 22 per cent.
Sending text message reminders is a simple and cost-effective way to improve non-attendance at ENT out-patient clinics.
门诊患者未就诊是一个看似棘手的问题，据估计每次事件造成的成本为65英镑（97欧元）。这导致资源利用不足和候诊名单延长。为了减少门诊患者未就诊的情况，我们的耳鼻喉科与信息通信技术部门合作，开始使用手机短信服务（“短信”）提醒，在门诊预约前三天发送给每位患者。
审核引入短信提醒系统后耳鼻喉科门诊的未就诊率。
回顾性研究。
在2003年8月引入短信提醒系统后，对我们机构耳鼻喉科门诊的未就诊情况进行审核。比较短信提醒组和历史对照组的未就诊率。
在引入短信提醒系统之前，平均未就诊率为33.6%。引入该系统后，平均未就诊率降至22%。
发送短信提醒是一种简单且经济有效的方法，可改善耳鼻喉科门诊的未就诊情况。
