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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01676337

Text Message Appointment Reminders

This project proposes administer and evaluate via a randomized controlled trail a text message-based appointment reminder system to promote attendance at clinic appointments after ED discharge.

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Key information

Conditions

Text Messages Disease Attributes Emergencies Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

About this study

Failure to attend scheduled clinic appointments causes inefficiency within the healthcare system, and frequently results in ED visits for non-emergent conditions such as medication refills, ambulatory care sensitive conditions which are potentially preventable with appropriate outpatient management (e.g. foot infections). Many patients seen in the ED report they were unaware of past or future outpatient appointments for which they had been scheduled. These patients are clearly in need of primary care, yet fail to attend 30% of all scheduled outpatient appointments. Patients most often report that they failed to attend scheduled appointments as a result of forgetfulness or confusion regarding dates, times, or locations. National data confirmed by our previous work in the LAC+USC ED demonstrates that > 80% of this population reports using a text-capable mobile device. The investigators believe a system of text message appointment reminders has tremendous potential to facilitate clinic attendance among these patients in desperate need of primary care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age >18
  • Able to provide consent and read in English or Spanish
  • Have a text message capable mobile phone
  • Know how to receive text messages
  • Have upcoming scheduled clinic appointments

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to provide written informed consent
  • Incarcerated
  • Critically ill
  • Altered Mental Status

Treatment and study plan

Text message appointment reminder

Other

Patients randomized to the intervention arm will receive text message appointment reminders including date, time, and location seven, three and one day prior to their scheduled clinic appointments. All appointment reminders will then be delivered automatically.

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence with scheduled appointments within 30 days post-enrollment

    Time frame: 30 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Adherence with scheduled appointments within 6 months post-enrollment

    Time frame: 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Text-message Appointment Reminder System to Improve Patient Adherence With Outpatient Follow-up Appointments

Acronym: TAR

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2013
First posted
Aug 30, 2012
Registry last updated
May 27, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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