PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: SMS texting systems have been considered a potential solution to reduce missed appointments in primary care. Existing research in this area focuses on qualitative studies investigating the attitudes of SMS text users and receivers.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine appointment data from an independent general practitioner (GP) surgery in Wrexham, United Kingdom, with approximately 15,000 patients, to determine the impact of text messaging systems on reducing missed appointments. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of text messages can effectively reduce missed appointments.
METHODS: To collect data for the study, SQL reports were run on EMIS Web, the United Kingdom\'s most widely used clinical system. The data spanned 10 years, from September 1, 2010, to March 31, 2020. Data accuracy was verified by cross-referencing with appointment diary records. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, chosen for their suitability in comparing groups in nonparametric settings, were conducted in Microsoft Excel due to its accessibility.
RESULTS: Statistical analyses were conducted to compare data before and after implementation of the text messaging system. The results revealed a significant 42.8% reduction in missed appointments (before: 5848; after: 3343; P<.001). Further analysis of demographic characteristics revealed interesting trends, with no significant difference in missed appointments between genders, and variations observed across different age groups. The median number of missed appointments was not significantly different between genders (women: 1.55, IQR 1.11-2.16; men: 1.61, IQR 1.08-2.12; P=.73). Despite the prevalence of mobile phone use among young adults aged 20-25 years, the highest rates of missed appointments (848/7256, 11.7%) were noted in this group, whereas the lowest rates were noted in the 75-80 years age group (377/7256; 5.2%; P<.001). Analysis by age and gender indicated inconsistencies: women aged 20-25 years (571/4216) and men aged 35-40 years (306/3040) had the highest rates of missed appointments, whereas women aged 70-75 years (177/4216) and men aged 75-80 years (129/3040) had the lowest rates (P<.001 for both).
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that SMS text messaging in primary care can significantly reduce missed appointments. Implementing technology such as SMS text messaging systems enables patients to cancel appointments on time, leading to improved efficiency in primary care settings.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine appointment data from an independent general practitioner (GP) surgery in Wrexham, United Kingdom, with approximately 15,000 patients, to determine the impact of text messaging systems on reducing missed appointments. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of text messages can effectively reduce missed appointments.
METHODS: To collect data for the study, SQL reports were run on EMIS Web, the United Kingdom\'s most widely used clinical system. The data spanned 10 years, from September 1, 2010, to March 31, 2020. Data accuracy was verified by cross-referencing with appointment diary records. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, chosen for their suitability in comparing groups in nonparametric settings, were conducted in Microsoft Excel due to its accessibility.
RESULTS: Statistical analyses were conducted to compare data before and after implementation of the text messaging system. The results revealed a significant 42.8% reduction in missed appointments (before: 5848; after: 3343; P<.001). Further analysis of demographic characteristics revealed interesting trends, with no significant difference in missed appointments between genders, and variations observed across different age groups. The median number of missed appointments was not significantly different between genders (women: 1.55, IQR 1.11-2.16; men: 1.61, IQR 1.08-2.12; P=.73). Despite the prevalence of mobile phone use among young adults aged 20-25 years, the highest rates of missed appointments (848/7256, 11.7%) were noted in this group, whereas the lowest rates were noted in the 75-80 years age group (377/7256; 5.2%; P<.001). Analysis by age and gender indicated inconsistencies: women aged 20-25 years (571/4216) and men aged 35-40 years (306/3040) had the highest rates of missed appointments, whereas women aged 70-75 years (177/4216) and men aged 75-80 years (129/3040) had the lowest rates (P<.001 for both).
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that SMS text messaging in primary care can significantly reduce missed appointments. Implementing technology such as SMS text messaging systems enables patients to cancel appointments on time, leading to improved efficiency in primary care settings.
摘要：
背景：SMS短信系统已被认为是减少初级保健中错过约会的潜在解决方案。该领域的现有研究集中在定性研究上，以调查SMS文本用户和接收者的态度。
目的：这项研究旨在检查来自雷克瑟姆的独立全科医生（GP）手术的预约数据，英国,大约有15,000名患者，以确定短信系统对减少错过约会的影响。这项研究的目的是调查使用短信是否可以有效减少错过约会。
方法：为了收集研究数据，在EMISWeb上运行SQL报告，英国最广泛使用的临床系统。数据跨越了10年,从2010年9月1日至2020年3月31日。通过与预约日记记录的交叉引用验证了数据的准确性。Mann-Whitney和Kruskal-Wallis测试,选择适合在非参数设置中比较组，由于其可访问性，在MicrosoftExcel中进行。
结果：进行统计分析以比较实施短信系统前后的数据。结果显示，错过的预约显著减少了42.8%（之前：5848；之后：3343；P<.001）。对人口特征的进一步分析揭示了有趣的趋势，性别之间的错过约会没有显着差异，以及在不同年龄段观察到的差异。错过约会的中位数在性别之间没有显着差异（女性：1.55，IQR1.11-2.16；男性：1.61，IQR1.08-2.12；P=.73）。尽管20-25岁的年轻人普遍使用手机，该组中错过预约率最高(848/7256,11.7%),而75-80岁年龄组的发病率最低(377/7256;5.2%;P<.001).按年龄和性别进行的分析表明不一致：20-25岁的女性（571/4216）和35-40岁的男性（306/3040）的错过约会率最高，而70-75岁的女性（177/4216）和75-80岁的男性（129/3040）的发病率最低（两者均P<.001）。
结论：这项研究表明，初级保健中的SMS短信可以显着减少错过的约会。SMS短信系统等技术的实施使患者能够按时取消预约，提高初级保健机构的效率。
目的：这项研究旨在检查来自雷克瑟姆的独立全科医生（GP）手术的预约数据，英国,大约有15,000名患者，以确定短信系统对减少错过约会的影响。这项研究的目的是调查使用短信是否可以有效减少错过约会。
方法：为了收集研究数据，在EMISWeb上运行SQL报告，英国最广泛使用的临床系统。数据跨越了10年,从2010年9月1日至2020年3月31日。通过与预约日记记录的交叉引用验证了数据的准确性。Mann-Whitney和Kruskal-Wallis测试,选择适合在非参数设置中比较组，由于其可访问性，在MicrosoftExcel中进行。
结果：进行统计分析以比较实施短信系统前后的数据。结果显示，错过的预约显著减少了42.8%（之前：5848；之后：3343；P<.001）。对人口特征的进一步分析揭示了有趣的趋势，性别之间的错过约会没有显着差异，以及在不同年龄段观察到的差异。错过约会的中位数在性别之间没有显着差异（女性：1.55，IQR1.11-2.16；男性：1.61，IQR1.08-2.12；P=.73）。尽管20-25岁的年轻人普遍使用手机，该组中错过预约率最高(848/7256,11.7%),而75-80岁年龄组的发病率最低(377/7256;5.2%;P<.001).按年龄和性别进行的分析表明不一致：20-25岁的女性（571/4216）和35-40岁的男性（306/3040）的错过约会率最高，而70-75岁的女性（177/4216）和75-80岁的男性（129/3040）的发病率最低（两者均P<.001）。
结论：这项研究表明，初级保健中的SMS短信可以显着减少错过的约会。SMS短信系统等技术的实施使患者能够按时取消预约，提高初级保健机构的效率。
