title: [SMS reminders can reduce non-attendance at consultations].
abstract: Each year, thousands of patients fail to attend their consulta-tions. In January 2014, 89/955 (9.3%) planned consultations were misheld at the Dermatology Department of Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark. A total of 209 patients were interviewed about SMS (short message service) reminders. 82% of re-spondents had a positive opinion of SMS reminders, however, reminders were only enrolled in 17.7% and awareness unknown in 33%. Reminders guaranteed attendance in 6.2%, otherwise forgotten, but the system has a significant untapped potential. It can be improved through automatic enrolment already when referring the patient.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologisk Afdeling, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 København NV. E-mail: katrinahuttoncarlsen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Katrina Hutton
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: Troels Ulrik
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Eliasen
authors.forename: Karen Marie
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serup
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D006801:Humans; D009819:Office Visits; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017010:Reminder Systems; D060145:Text Messaging