Use of automated reminders for tuberculin skin test return.
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.
Tanke
E D
ED
Decision Systems, Los Altos, California, USA. EDTanke@AOL.com
Martinez
C M
CM
Leirer
V O
VO
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*