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Background Patients not attending to clinic appointments (no-show) significantly affects delivery, cost of care and resource planning. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, predictors and economic consequences of patient no-shows. Method This is a retrospective cohort study using administrative databases for fiscal years 1997–2008. We searched administrative databases for no-show frequency and cost at a large medical center. In addition, we estimated no-show rates and costs in another 10 regional hospitals. We studied no-show rates in primary care and various subspecialty settings over a 12-year period, the monthly and seasonal trends of no-shows, the effects of implementing a reminder system and the economic effects of missed appointments. Results The mean no-show rate was 18.8 % (2.4 %) in 10 main clinics with highest occurring in subspecialist clinics. No-show rate in the women clinic was higher and the no-show rate in geriatric clinic was lower compared to general primary care clinic (PCP). The no-show rate remained at a high level despite its reduction by a centralized phone reminder (from 16.3 % down to 15.8 %). The average cost of no-show per patient was $196 in 2008. Conclusions Our data indicates that no-show imposed a major burden on this health care system. Further, implementation of a reminder system only modestly reduced the no-show rate.

Mobile text messages are a widely recognized communication method in societies, as the global penetration of the technology approaches 100% worldwide. Systematic knowledge is still lacking on how the mobile telephone text messaging (short message service, SMS) has been used in health care services. This study aims to review the literature on the use of mobile phone text message reminders in health care. We conducted a systematic literature review of studies on mobile telephone text message reminders. The data sources used were PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Proquest Databases/ PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and hand searching since 2003. Studies reporting the use of SMS intended to remind patients in health services were included. Given the heterogeneity in the studies, descriptive characteristics, purpose of the study, response rates, description of the intervention, dose and timing, instruments, outcome measures, and outcome data from the studies were synthesized using a narrative approach. From 911 initial citations, 60 studies were included in the review. The studies reported a variety of use for SMS. Mobile telephone text message reminders were used as the only intervention in 73% (44/60) of the studies, and in 27% (16/60) of the remaining studies, SMS was connected to another comprehensive health intervention system. SMS reminders were sent to different patient groups: patients with HIV/AIDS (15%, 9/60) and diabetes (13%, 8/60) being the most common groups. The response rates of the studies varied from 22-100%. Typically, the text message reminders were sent daily. The time before the specific intervention to be rendered varied from 10 minutes (eg, medication taken) to 2 weeks (eg, scheduled appointment). A wide range of different evaluation methods and outcomes were used to assess the impact of SMS varying from existing databases (eg, attendance rate based on medical records), questionnaires, and physiological measures. About three quarters of the studies (77%, 46/60) reported improved outcomes: adherence to medication or to treatment reportedly improved in 40% (24/60) of the studies, appointment attendance in 18% (11/60) of the studies, and non-attendance rates decreased in 18% (11/60) of the studies. Other positive impacts were decreased amount of missed medication doses, more positive attitudes towards medication, and reductions in treatment interruptions. We can conclude that although SMS reminders are used with different patient groups in health care, SMS is less systematically studied with randomized controlled trial study design. Although the amount of evidence for SMS application recommendations is still limited, having 77% (46/60) of the studies showing improved outcomes may indicate its use in health care settings. However, more well-conducted SMS studies are still needed.

Encouraging routine COVID-19 vaccinations is likely to be a crucial policy challenge for decades to come. To avert hundreds of thousands of unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths, adoption will need to be higher than it was in the autumn of 2022 or 2023, when less than one-fifth of Americans received booster vaccines 1 , 2 . One approach to encouraging vaccination is to eliminate the friction of transportation hurdles. Previous research has shown that friction can hinder follow-through 3 and that individuals who live farther from COVID-19 vaccination sites are less likely to get vaccinated 4 . However, the value of providing free round-trip transportation to vaccination sites is unknown. Here we show that offering people free round-trip Lyft rides to pharmacies has no benefit over and above sending them behaviourally informed text messages reminding them to get vaccinated. We determined this by running a megastudy with millions of CVS Pharmacy patients in the United States testing the effects of (1) free round-trip Lyft rides to CVS Pharmacies for vaccination appointments and (2) seven different sets of behaviourally informed vaccine reminder messages. Our results suggest that offering previously vaccinated individuals free rides to vaccination sites is not a good investment in the United States, contrary to the high expectations of both expert and lay forecasters. Instead, people in the United States should be sent behaviourally informed COVID-19 vaccination reminders, which increased the 30-day COVID-19 booster uptake by 21% (1.05 percentage points) and spilled over to increase 30-day influenza vaccinations by 8% (0.34 percentage points) in our megastudy. More rigorous testing of interventions to promote vaccination is needed to ensure that evidence-based solutions are deployed widely and that ineffective but intuitively appealing tools are discontinued. Contrary to expectations, offers of free transportation to vaccine sites did not increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake more than text message reminders, a finding that has implications for future policy decision-making to promote vaccination.

Abstract Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and a key barrier to improved outcomes is medication non-adherence. The aim of this study is to review the role of mobile health (mHealth) tools for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease. We performed a systematic search for randomized controlled trials that primarily investigated mHealth tools for improving adherence to cardiovascular disease medications in patients with hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke. We extracted and reviewed data on the types of mHealth tools used, preferences of patients and healthcare providers, the effect of the mHealth interventions on medication adherence, and the limitations of trials. We identified 10 completed trials matching our selection criteria, mostly with <100 participants, and ranging in duration from 1 to 18 months. mHealth tools included text messages, Bluetooth-enabled electronic pill boxes, online messaging platforms, and interactive voice calls. Patients and healthcare providers generally preferred mHealth to other interventions. All 10 studies reported that mHealth interventions improved medication adherence, though the magnitude of benefit was not consistently large and in one study was not greater than a telehealth comparator. Limitations of trials included small sample sizes, short duration of follow-up, self-reported outcomes, and insufficient assessment of unintended harms and financial implications. Current evidence suggests that mHealth tools can improve medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, high-quality clinical trials of sufficient size and duration are needed to move the field forward and justify use in routine care.

With the accessibility and widespread use of mobile phones, mobile phone apps targeting medication adherence may be useful tools to help patients take medications as prescribed. Our objectives were to (1) characterize and assess mobile phone medication adherence apps guided by a conceptual framework on the focus of adherence interventions and (2) conduct a content analysis of Web-based reviews to explore users' perspectives and experiences with mobile phone medication adherence apps. We searched for mobile phone medication adherence apps using keyword searches in Apple and Android operating systems. We characterized all apps in terms of number of downloads, ratings, languages, cost, and disease target. We categorized apps according to 4 key features of (1) alerting to take medication, (2) tracking medication taking, (3) reminding to refill or indicating amount of medication left, and (4) storing medication information. We then selected representative apps from each operating system for detailed quality assessment and user testing. We also downloaded Web-based reviews for these selected apps and conducted a qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach involving steps of initial open coding, construction of categories, and abstraction into themes. We identified 704 apps (443 from Apple and 261 from Android). The majority of apps across both operating systems had 1 or 2 features-specifically, 37.2% (165/443) and 38.1% (169/443) of Apple apps, respectively, and 41.4% (108/261) and 31.4% (108/261) of Android apps, respectively. Quality assessment and user testing of 20 selected apps revealed apps varied in quality and commonly focused on behavioral strategies to enhance medication adherence through alerts, reminders, and logs. A total of 1323 eligible Web-based reviews from these 20 selected apps were analyzed, and the following themes emerged: (1) features and functions appreciated by users, which included the ability to set up customized medication regimen details and reminders, monitor other health information (eg, vitals, supplements, and manage multiple people or pets), support health care visits (eg, having a list of medications and necessary health information in 1 app); (2) negative user experiences that captured technical difficulties (glitches, confusing app navigation, and poor interoperability), dosage schedule, and reminder setup inflexibility; and (3) desired functions and features related to optimization of information input, improvement of reminders, and upgrading app performance (better synchronization or backup of data and interoperability). A large number of mobile phone medication adherence apps are currently available. The majority of apps have features representing a behavioral approach to intervention. Findings of the content analysis offer mostly positive feedback as well as insights into current limitations and improvements that could be addressed in current and future medication adherence apps.

Ensuring treatment adherence is important for the internal validity of clinical trials. In intervention studies where touch points decrease over time, there is even more of an adherence challenge. Trials with multiple cohorts offer an opportunity to innovate on ways to increase treatment adherence without compromising the integrity of the study design, and previous cohorts can serve as historical controls. Electronically delivered nudges offer low-cost opportunities to increase treatment adherence. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic messages (e-messages) on treatment adherence to the last cohort of a parent weight loss intervention during the second half of a year-long trial, when intervention checkpoint frequency decreases. Treatment adherence is measured by intervention class attendance and adherence to the intervention diet. All participants in the last cohort (cohort 5, n=128) of a large randomized weight loss study were offered an e-message intervention to improve participant adherence during the last 6 months of a 1-year weight loss program. Overall, 3 to 4 electronic weekly messages asked participants about intervention diet adherence. A propensity score model was estimated using 97 participants who opted to receive e-messages and 31 who declined in cohort 5 and used to pair match cohort 5 e-message participants to a historical control group from cohorts 1 to 4. Moreover, 88 participants had complete data, yielding 176 participants in the final analyses. After matching, intervention and matched control groups were compared on (1) proportion of class attendance between the 6 and 12 month study endpoints, (2) diet adherence, as measured by total carbohydrate grams for low-carbohydrate (LC) and total fat grams for low-fat (LF) diets at 12 months, and (3) weight change from 6 to 12 months. The dose-response relationship between the proportion of text messages responded to and the 3 outcomes was also investigated. Compared with matched controls, receiving e-messages had no effect on (1) treatment adherence; class attendance after 6 months +4.6% (95% CI -4.43 to 13.68, P=.31), (2) adherence; LC -2.5 g carbohydrate, 95% CI -29.9 to 24.8, P=.85; LF +6.2 g fat, 95% CI -4.1 to 17.0, P=.26); or on (3) the secondary outcome of weight change in the last 6 months; +0.3 kg (95% CI -1.0 to 1.5, P=.68). There was a positive significant response correlation between the percentage of messages to which participants responded and class attendance (r=.45, P<.001). Although this e-message intervention did not improve treatment adherence, future studies can learn from this pilot and may incorporate more variety in the prompts and more interaction to promote more effective user engagement. Uniquely, this study demonstrated the potential for innovating within a multicohort trial using propensity score-matched historical control subjects. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01826591; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01826591. RR2-10.1016/j.cct.2016.12.021.

Cervical cancer is currently the leading female cancer in Uganda. Most women are diagnosed with late-stage disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the single most important primary preventive measure. While research regarding text message vaccine reminder use is strong in the United States, their use has not yet been demonstrated in a preteen and adolescent population in subSaharan Africa or other low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to assess the impact of vaccine reminders with embedded interactive educational information on timeliness of HPV vaccination in Kampala, Uganda. In this randomized controlled trial conducted in 2022, caregivers of adolescents needing a first or second HPV vaccine dose were recruited from an adolescent clinic and three community health centres in Kampala, Uganda. Families (n=154) were randomized 1:1 into intervention versus usual care, stratified by dose (ie, initiation, completion) and language (ie, English, Luganda) within each site. Intervention caregivers received a series of automated, personalized text messages or automated phone calls based on family preference. Five messages were sent before the due date, including both static and interactive educational information, with five follow-up messages for those unvaccinated. Receipt of the needed dose by 24 weeks postenrollment was assessed by χ2, regression, and Kaplan-Meier with log-rank test. All analyses were conducted using intention-to-treat principles. Overall, 154 caregivers were enrolled (51.3% for dose 1; 48.7% for dose 2) and 64.3% (n=99) spoke Luganda. Among individuals in the intervention arm, 62% (48/78) requested SMS text message reminders and 38% (n=30) requested automated phone reminders. There was no significant difference in requested mode by HPV vaccine dose or language. Intervention adolescents were more likely to receive the needed dose by 24 weeks (51/78, 65.4% vs 27/76, 35.5%; P<.001; RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.6). There was no interaction by dose or language. There was no difference in vaccination between those requesting SMS text message versus phone reminders (32/49, 65.3% vs 19/30, 63.3%; P=.86). The number needed to message for one additional vaccination was 3.4 (95% CI 2.2-6.8). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated more timely vaccination in the intervention arm (P<.001). In this novel trial, SMS text message and automated phone reminders were effective in promoting more timely HPV vaccination in this population.

The study’s aim was to investigate how different reminders for surgical hand scrubbing duration affect healthcare students’ scrubbing performance and satisfaction. Every healthcare student planning to work in operating rooms needs to learn and practice the correct procedure for surgical hand scrubbing. The study followed a randomized controlled design involving a pretest and posttest. The study was conducted in the Operating Room Services Program at a private university’s Vocational School of Health Services in Turkey in April–May 2025. Students were randomly assigned to a music group, alarm group, or control group, with 23 students each. The reminder in the music group was a song, the reminder in the alarm group was an alarm and routine practice was performed in the control group. Scrubbing performance was evaluated using a Surgical Hand Scrubbing Checklist. No significant difference arose between the music, alarm and control groups in the initial performance (H = 1.139, p = .263) or final performance according to the Surgical Hand Scrubbing Checklist scores. However, the music group’s scores were higher in the final performance than in the initial performance (t = −2.081, p = .049). Moreover, all students’ satisfaction with the training protocol was similar (H = 1.139, p = .263). The music reminder demonstrated the potential to enhance long-term skill retention through combined temporal and mnemonic effects. The results also confirm that simulated skills laboratory training effectively prepares students for the essential procedure of surgical hand scrubbing while increasing satisfaction with the training protocol. •Healthcare students preparing to work in operating rooms should learn and practice proper surgical hand scrubbing.•Using reminders about scrub duration increases operating room students' interest and satisfaction.•Listening to music as a reminder of scrub duration positively supports students’ recall of surgical hand scrubbing practice.

In August 2019, Denmark implemented a proactive childhood vaccination reminder system. This study aimed to assess the effect of the introduction of this vaccination reminder system on vaccination coverage and uptake of the first four childhood vaccinations, namely the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)-infection vaccination (DTaP-IPV/Hib) recommended at three, five and twelve months as well as mumps, measles, rubella vaccination (MMR1) recommended at 15 months. This was a retrospective register-based cohort study based on two birth cohorts: children born in January 2018 (i.e. control group) and January 2022 (i.e. intervention group). All children that lived in Denmark and were alive during the entire study period were included. Children were followed-up from two weeks before to six weeks after each scheduled vaccination. The end of the study period was therefore at 16.5 months. Differences in vaccination status were tested at six weeks after scheduled vaccination. The median days to vaccination were calculated and compared between the two cohorts. Kaplan Meier curves and logrank tests were used to compare vaccination uptake over time between the two cohorts. Logistic regression analyses tested for differences in vaccination coverage at six weeks after scheduled vaccination between the study groups. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative birth cohorts. The vaccination coverage at six weeks after scheduled vaccination was higher for children in the intervention cohort for all vaccinations, except the second diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-polio-Hib vaccine (DTaP-IPV/Hib2) given at 5 months. Fewer children in the intervention cohort were unvaccinated (3.4 % vs 1.3%3 %; p < 0.001) and more children had received all three DTaP-IPV/Hib vaccinations at the end of the study period (88.3 % versus 79.0 %; p < 0.001). Children in the intervention group were significantly more likely to have been vaccinated at six weeks after scheduled vaccination for all vaccinations except DTaP-IPV/Hib2, compared to the control group. This study indicated that the children vaccinated under the proactive vaccination reminder system did have a higher vaccination coverage for three out of four investigated childhood vaccinations and a somewhat quicker vaccination uptake than children vaccinated before the introduction of the reminder system.

Non-adherence to treatment in patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) presents a significant challenge in effective disease management. This study aimed to assess the effect of a therapy reminder application (app) on treatment adherence in adult patients with BTM in Mashhad in 2024. A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2024 at a thalassemia clinic affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Mashhad, Iran). Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, using permuted block randomization, with concealed allocation. The intervention group used the ThalaMe therapy reminder app for 8 weeks (February-July 2024), while the control group received standard care. Medication adherence was measured using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the Chronic Disease Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (CDTAQ) before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, using paired tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for within-group comparisons and independent tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for between-group comparisons. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study included 76 adult patients with BTM, equally distributed between the intervention and control groups (n=38 each). Baseline measurements showed no significant differences between groups in either MMAS-8 scores (P=0.75) or CDTAQ scores (P=0.11). The MMAS-8 was inversely scored, with lower scores indicating higher adherence. Following the 8-week intervention period, the group using the ThalaMe app demonstrated significantly better adherence outcomes (1.05±0.78) than the controls (2.92±1.4, P<0.001). The intervention group had significantly higher CDTAQ scores (185.5±8.07) than the control group (151.79±27.08, P<0.001). The therapy reminder app significantly enhanced medication adherence and treatment management in patients with BTM, while simultaneously enhancing patient and family engagement through counseling. IRCT20240222061079N1.