title: Impact of Reminder Systems in Clinical Settings to Improve Family Planning Outcomes: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This systematic review evaluated the evidence on the impact of family planning reminder systems-interventions intended to remind patients of behaviors to achieve reproductive health goals (e.g., daily text messages reminding oral contraceptive [OC] users to take a pill)-to provide information to guide national recommendations on quality family planning services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple databases including PubMed were searched during 2010-2011 for peer-reviewed articles published in English from January 1985 through February 2011 describing studies evaluating reminder systems to improve family planning outcomes. Studies were excluded if they focused primarily on HIV or sexually transmitted infection prevention, focused solely on men, or were conducted outside the U.S., Europe, Australia, or New Zealand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial search identified 16,129 articles, five of which met the inclusion criteria. Three studies examined the impact of OC reminder systems; two found a statistically significant positive impact on correct use. Two studies examined the impact of reminder systems among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users; one found a statistically significant positive impact on correct use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although mixed support was found for the effectiveness of reminder system interventions on correct use of OCs and DMPA, the highest-quality evidence yielded null findings. The evidence base would be strengthened by the development of additional studies, especially RCTs, which objectively measure outcomes, examine additional contraceptive methods, and have sufficient sample sizes to detect behavioral outcomes at least 12 months post-intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: lzapata@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Manila Consulting Group, Inc., McLean, Virginia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tregear
authors.affiliation: Manila Consulting Group, Inc., McLean, Virginia.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiller
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pazol
authors.affiliation: Office of Population Affairs, USDHHS, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mautone-Smith
authors.affiliation: Office of Population Affairs, USDHHS, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Loretta E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gavin
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003267:Contraception; D005060:Europe; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000191:economics*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States