Text Messaging and Improved Appointment Adherence Evaluated
SMS texting appears to result in greater ocular appointment adherence in people with diabetes, according to a randomized trial involving 233 individuals.
Participants were scheduled for eye exams at 5 hospitals in low-income areas of Guangdong, China over a ~1 year period ending in 2016. They were randomized to receive either SMS appointment reminders 7 and 3 days prior to their appointment (n=119) or no reminders (n=114). Investigators looked at attendance within 1 week of original appointment time, as well as change in knowledge about diabetic retinopathy. Among the results:
- 43% of patients in the intervention group attended scheduled appointments, vs 14% of controls, a significant difference.
- Intervention patients were more than 3 times more likely to be adherent.
- The intervention group was also 30% more likely to have greater knowledge about diabetic retinopathy, and 8% more likely to be satisfied.
Chen T, Zhu W, Tang B, et al. A mobile phone informational reminder to improve eye care adherence among diabetic patient in rural china: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct;194:54-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2018.07.006.
