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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05799976

Text Message-Based Nudges Prior to Primary Care Visits to Increase Care Gap Closure

Primary care visits are a key aspect of clinical care focused on helping patients to close care gaps related to preventive care such as vaccination, diabetes testing, statin therapy and cancer screening. However, less than 50% of care gaps are closed during these visits and new approaches are needed to prime patients for a discussion during these visits. In this study, the study team will evaluate a health system initiative that uses text messaging to patients in days preceding a primary care visit to prime patients to be amenable to ordering of vaccination, diabetes testing, cancer screening, and statin prescribing.

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Key information

Conditions

Pneumonia, Pneumococcal Bacterial Infections Bacterial Infections and Mycoses Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Colonic Diseases Colorectal Cancer Colorectal Neoplasms Diabetes Mellitus Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Glucose Metabolism Disorders Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections Infections Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Lung Diseases Metabolic Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pneumococcal Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Bacterial Rectal Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Streptococcal Infections

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ascension

St Louis, Missouri, 63134, United States

About this study

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has recommended tests and treatments for vaccination, diabetes testing, statin therapy, and cancer screening. These preventive services have been demonstrated to reduce illness and improve quality of care. Yet, more than 50% of open care gaps go unaddressed during primary care visits.

Nudges are subtle changes to the way information is framed or choices are offered that can have a significant impact on behavior. In a previous randomized clinical trial, text messages sent to patients prior to primary care visits increased vaccination by up to 11% relative to control. The most effective message told patients the influenza vaccine was "reserved for you," and sent two text messages to patients in the 3 days preceding a primary care appointment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 or older
  • Have documented consent to communicate electronically
  • Have a visit scheduled with a primary care practice
  • Have at least one open care gap among those in the intervention

Exclusion criteria

  • No phone number on file to send text messages

Treatment and study plan

Text message nudge

Behavioral

The text message nudge will be sent to patients 3 days and 1 day prior to a visit with the primary care practices and notify them of up to 3 care gaps based on electronic health record data. Care gaps will be selected based on availability and ranked in this order: influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination, breast cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening, hemoglobin A1 testing, or statin therapy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Care gap order rate

    Time frame: By the end of the day of the primary care visit

    The proportion of open care gaps that have a test or treatment ordered to address them

Other outcomes

  1. Care gap completion rate

    Time frame: Within 3 months of the primary care visit

    The proportion of open care gaps that have a test or treatment completed to address them. Exploratory and only if data is available

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mitesh Patel

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Pragmatic Randomized Intervention Using Text Messages Prior to Primary Care Visits to Encourage Care Gap Closure: The PRIME Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 5, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 25, 2024

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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