Is a Telephone Reminder Effective in Improving Retention Rate of Obese Patients?

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of telephone call reminder on retention rate in obese patients. Methods: A total of 118 patients (85 first-time visitors, 33 re-visitors), who visited an obesity management clinic from May 2003 to May 2004, were divided into the intervention group (n=64) and the comparison group (n=54). The intervention was a telephone call reminder before the appointment date. The retention rate up to 7th visit and body mass index were compared between the two groups. Results: The retention rate was 64.4% at 4th visit (after 66.5+/-29.2 days from the first visit) and 36.4% at 7th visit (after 142.1+/-57.8 days from the first visit). For the first- time visitors, the retention rate at 3rd visit was significantly higher (85.1%) in the intervention group than those in the comparison group (67.6%, P=0.049). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in retention rate and body mass index at each visit between the two groups regardless of the visiting status. However, the body mass index at 4th and 7th visit was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group among the first-time visitors who completely attended 7 times (P=0.031). Conclusion: We could not find the telephone call reminder to be an effective method to improve retention rate in obesity management clinic. Further intensive approach is needed to promote attendance.

The effect of telephone call reminder on non-compliant patients in outpatient clinic

BACKGROUND: No-show is a major obstacle for proper management in outpatient clinic. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a reminding telephone call on the compliance after no-show patients in family practice. METHODS: A nurse in family practice called to 590 non-compliant patients who did not visit on the appointment day for 80 days. A single telephone call attempt was directed primarily to the patient or family members for them to make another appointment. The outcome measure was an increased attendance rate within 3 months after telephone calling. RESULTS: The completed telephone contacted group (N=242) and failed group (N=348) were well balanced for all study variables except age. The attendance rate of 60.7 % in the completed group, regardless of who was contacted by telephone, was 40.7 % greater than 23.0 % attendance rate in the failed group. In the univariate analysis, attendance for patients who lived near the clinic (within 1 hour ) was better (45.3%) than that for any group (P = .02). In the logistic regression analysis, only the telephone call reminder was an independent predictor of attendance (Adjusted OR=5.03, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Telephone reminder is a very effective method of increasing attendance in a hospital-based family clinic. The reminder is a consistently effective intervention whether the message is delivered to the patient or the family member.