title: 'It's all in the message': the utility of personalised short message service (SMS) texts to remind patients at higher risk of STIs and HIV to reattend for testing-a repeat before and after study.
abstract: Patients at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV acquisition are advised to reattend for retesting. A previous study showed that 'generic' text reminders did not improve reattendance.
  
  
  
  To assess if a personalised text message with increased contact information would increase reattendance rates of at-risk patients.
  
  
  
  Patients who are at risk of future STIs, defined by having a current acute STI, attending for emergency contraception, commercial sex workers (CSWs) or men who have sex with men (MSM), were sent a text reminder to reattend for retesting 6 weeks after initial visit. Reattendance rates were measured for September to December 2012 (control group who received a generic text message) and February to May 2014 (intervention 'personalised message' group who received a text message containing their first name and ways to contact the clinic). Reattendance was counted within 4 months of the end of the initial episode of care.
  
  
  
  The reattendance rate was significantly higher for the intervention group: 149/266 (56%) than the control group: 90/273 (33%) (p=0.0001) and was also significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group in patients with the following risks: recent chlamydia (64/123 (52%) vs 43/121 (36%)) (p=0.03), recent gonorrhoea (41/64 (64%) vs 4/21 (19%)) (p=0.0003) and MSM (26/45 (58%) vs 3/18 (16%)) (p=0.006). New STI rates in the reattending intervention group and controls were 26/ 149 (17%) and 13/90 (14%) (n.s), respectively.
  
  
  
  Sending a personalised text message with increased contact information as a reminder for retesting increased reattendance rates by 23% in patients who are at higher risk of STIs.
authors.affiliation: Patrick Clements Clinic, Department of Sexual Health and HIV, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Farai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nyatsanza
authors.affiliation: Patrick Clements Clinic, Department of Sexual Health and HIV, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McSorley
authors.affiliation: Patrick Clements Clinic, Department of Sexual Health and HIV, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Patrick Clements Clinic, Department of Sexual Health and HIV, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: CHLAMYDIA INFECTION; COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES; GONORRHOEA; HEALTH SERV RESEARCH; SEXUAL HEALTH