Ophthalmology Department, Queen Margaret Hospital, Whitefield Road, Dunfermline KY12 OSU, UK.
Scott Med J. 2011 Aug;56(3):148-50. doi: 10.1258/smj.2011.011112.
To our knowledge there have been no previous studies that have examined the effect of short messaging service (SMS) text messaging reminders to both mobile and landlines on the 'did not attend' (DNA) rate in adult hospital clinic attendees. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of a text messaging reminder in improving attendance in return general ophthalmology clinic patients. Ophthalmology clinic patients requiring a follow-up appointment were invited to enter the study. An information leaflet was provided and patients were contacted two weeks before their scheduled appointment by way of a customized text message to either the mobile phone or landline. The non-attendance rate compared with historic non-attendance rate was recorded. Two hundred and one patients were recruited. The historic DNA rate was 12%. The DNA rate in the SMS text reminder group was reduced to 5.5% (11 patients). The historic 'Could not attend' (CNA) rate of 6% had been reduced to 2% (4 patients). Forty-seven percent of patients used mobile phone technology with text messaging capability and 69% responded to the text reminder. In conclusion, routine SMS texting is a cost-effective means of reducing DNAs and should become standard practice. In addition, two-way messaging could allow for further efficiency as advance notification of patient cancellations facilitates re-scheduling of alternative patients.
据我们所知，以前没有研究检查过向移动电话和固定电话发送短消息服务 (SMS) 文本消息提醒对成人医院诊所就诊者的“未出席” (DNA) 率的影响。我们的目的是确定文本消息提醒在提高普通眼科诊所患者的就诊率方面的有效性。需要预约复诊的眼科诊所患者被邀请参加这项研究。提供了一份信息传单，并在患者预约前两周通过定制的短信方式联系他们的移动电话或固定电话。记录与历史未出席率相比的未出席率。共有 201 名患者入组。历史 DNA 率为 12%。短信文本提醒组的 DNA 率降低到 5.5% (11 名患者)。历史上“无法出席” (CNA) 的 6%已降低至 2% (4 名患者)。47%的患者使用具有短信功能的移动电话技术，69%的患者对短信提醒做出了回应。总之，常规的 SMS 短信是降低 DNA 的一种具有成本效益的方法，应该成为标准做法。此外，双向消息传递可以提高效率，因为提前通知患者取消可以方便重新安排其他患者的预约。
