title: Patient mobile telephone 'text' reminder: a novel way to reduce non-attendance at the ENT out-patient clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-attendance at out-patient clinics is a seemingly intractable problem, estimated to cost 65 pounds sterling (97 euros) per incident. This results in under-utilisation of resources and prolonged waiting lists. In an effort to reduce out-patient clinic non-attendance, our ENT department, in conjunction with the information and communication technology department, instigated the use of a mobile telephone short message service ('text') reminder, to be sent out to each patient three days prior to their out-patient clinic appointment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To audit non-attendance rates at ENT out-patient clinics following the introduction of a text reminder system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-attendance at our institution's ENT out-patient clinics was audited, following introduction of a text message reminder system in August 2003. Rates of non-attendance were compared for the text message reminder group and a historical control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the introduction of the text message reminder system, the mean rate of non-attendance was 33.6 per cent. Following the introduction of the system, the mean rate of non-attendance reduced to 22 per cent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sending text message reminders is a simple and cost-effective way to improve non-attendance at ENT out-patient clinics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Adelaide and Meath and The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland. michaegeraghty@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geraghty
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsella
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies