title: Use of automated reminders for tuberculin skin test return.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the impact of automated telephone reminders on tuberculin skin test returns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 701 English-speaking and Spanish-speaking patients of a public health immunization program were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Those in the intervention group received an automated telephone reminder to return for the reading of their skin test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Automated telephone reminders significantly reduced return failures 53% (from 14% to 7%) when the scheduled interval between test administration and reading was three days, but had no impact for a two-day interval. Effectiveness of reminders did not differ significantly by patient age, gender, or language (English versus Spanish).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest the value of automated reminder calls for intra-appointment intervals as short as three days.
authors.affiliation: Decision Systems, Los Altos, California, USA. EDTanke@AOL.com
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Tanke
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Leirer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017010:Reminder Systems; D013689:Telephone; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*