title: SMS reminders in the UK national health service: an evaluation of its impact on "no-shows" at hospital out-patient clinics.
abstract: The ownership of cell phones and use of short message service (SMS) are sufficiently common in the United Kingdom to be exploited by health services providers. The study evaluates their use to reduce nonattendance at out-patient clinics. The impact is modest, but so also is the cost, about 7.50 pounds (13.13 dollars, 10.88 euros) per "no-show" avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Glasgow, G12 8RT UK. R.G.Milne@socsci.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Robin G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torsney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002648:Child; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom