Text Messaging and Note Card Reminders to Decrease the Rates of Missed Appointments in a Women's Public Health Clinic

Abstract

<p>High missed appointments (HMAs), resulting in missed opportunities to identify potential health threats affecting pregnancy outcomes, are a major concern for a local women's health clinic serving prenatal clients in the Dayton area. HMAs has been linked to forgetfulness and apathy resulting in no show rates between 14.7% -55% per/month. The literature review indicated that numerous reminders, combined with text messaging and personal note cards are more effective than single reminders in reducing HMA rates. This innovative approach encourages prenatal patients to assume greater responsibility for their health and their child's well-being. For example, an initiative by The National Healthy Mother, Healthy Babies Coalition, Text4baby, encourages timely prenatal care using text messaging. In collaboration with the women's health clinic, this author incorporated the Centers for Disease Control, Planned Approach to Community Health (PATCH, 1992) to engage community members in the planning. The framework posits that effective and sustainable interventions should be derived from the "voices" of community stakeholders. Therefore, a focus group of women from the community will be established to determine the likelihood of success of implementing a new text messaging and note card reminder protocol. Based on their feedback, staff at the clinic will be oriented to the new client reminder system. Evaluation of the new protocol will include monitoring the percentage of missed appointments, examining staffs involvement and the user-friendliness of written materials used during the new protocol. All data will be monitored by the master's prepared advanced practice nurse in community/public health at 3, 6, and 9 months. Revisions or modifications of the new protocol will be made as needed at the end of each evaluation period. This analysis will determine the success of the text messaging and personal card reminder system derived from the author's program planning assignment. A redesign or termination of the program will be based on outcome data.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>