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Effect of a computer-generated telephone reminder system on appointment attendance

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 10; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1053/j.sodo.2004.05.001

1558-4631

John Roth, Theodore J. Kula, Alan G. Glaros, Katherine Kula,

Healthcare Systems and Technology

This was a prospective, longitudinal, randomized study designed to determine the effects of a computer-generated telephone reminder system, HouseCalls™, on the appointment attendance of patients undergoing active orthodontic treatment in a university orthodontic clinic. A total of 228 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The patients in the call group (n = 114) with 495 scheduled appointments received a computer-generated reminder the night before their appointment. The no-call group containing 114 patients with 541 scheduled appointments received no reminder. The call group had 22 broken appointments (4.4% broken appointment rate) and the no-call group had 46 broken appointments (8.5% broken appointment rate). The call group had a significantly lower broken appointment rate (χ2, P < 0.05). This was a prospective, longitudinal, randomized study designed to determine the effects of a computer-generated telephone reminder system, HouseCalls™, on the appointment attendance of patients undergoing active orthodontic treatment in a university orthodontic clinic. A total of 228 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The patients in the call group (n = 114) with 495 scheduled appointments received a computer-generated reminder the night before their appointment. The no-call group containing 114 patients with 541 scheduled appointments received no reminder. The call group had 22 broken appointments (4.4% broken appointment rate) and the no-call group had 46 broken appointments (8.5% broken appointment rate). The call group had a significantly lower broken appointment rate (χ2, P < 0.05).