Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short Message Service (SMS) can Enhance Compliance and Reduce Cancellations in a Sedation Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Mobile Systems
  • Published:
Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many outpatients who inadequately prepared for the procedure were cancelled on the day of the examination for various reasons. The aim of study was to investigate whether short message service (SMS) can improve patients’ compliance and reduce cancellation rates. Outpatients scheduled for sedation gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly assigned to mobile phone SMS group or control group. Patients in the control group received a leaflet on preparation instructions, while patients in the SMS group received SMS reminders after making an appointment. A total of 1786 patients were analyzed. There was a significant reduction in the rate of cancellations for patients in the SMS group (4.8 %) compared with patients in the control group (8.0 %) (P < 0.001). Patients in the SMS group were 40 % less likely to be cancelled by medical staff than patients in the control group. The compliance score of the two groups based on demographic and clinic characteristic distribution showed that for both male and female patients, the compliance score was higher in the SMS group than that in the control group (P = 0.023, P < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, the compliance score was also significantly higher in the SMS group among patients who were under 50 years old, less than an undergraduate education level, experiencing their first time for procedure, or whose procedures were gastroscopy, waiting time was between 4 and 15 days, and schedules were in morning (P ≤ 0.032). SMS reminders can be considered a complement to conventional preparation instructions, which could help improve the compliance of outpatients and reduce the rate of cancellations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baker, DW., Dewalt, DA., Schillinger, D., Hawk, V., et al., The effect of progressive, reinforcing telephone education and counseling versus brief educational intervention on knowledge, self-care behaviors and heart failure symptoms. J Card Fail 17(10): 789–96, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bieri, FA., Gray, DJ., Williams, GM., Raso, G., Li, YS., Yuan, L., He, Y., Li, RS., Guo, FY., Li, SM., McManus, DP., Health-education package to prevent worm infections in Chinese schoolchildren. N Engl J Med 368(17): 1603–12, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Mitchell, SJ., Godoy, L., Shabazz, K., Horn, IB., Internet and mobile technology use among urban african american parents: survey study of a clinical population. J Med Internet Res 16(1):e9, 2014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lin, H., Chen, W., Luo, L., et al., Effectiveness of a short message reminder in increasing compliance with pediatric cataract treatment: a randomized trial. Ophthalmology 119(12): 2463–70, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bert, F., Giacometti, M., Gualano, MR., Siliquini, R., Smartphones and health promotion: a review of the evidence. J Med Syst 38(1):9995, 2014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Vervloet, M., van, DL., Santen-Reestman, J., van-Vlijmen, B., van-Wingerden, P., Bouvy, ML., de-Bakker, DH., SMS reminders improve adherence to oral medication in type 2 diabetes patients who are real time electronically monitored. Int J Med Inform 81(9):594–604, 2012.

  7. Uhrig, JD., Lewis, MA., Bann, CM., Harris, JL., Furberg, RD., Coomes, CM., Kuhns, LM., Addressing HIV knowledge, risk reduction, social support, and patient involvement using SMS: results of a proof-of-concept study. J Health Commun 17 Suppl 1: 128–45, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Free, C., Knight, R., Robertson, S., Whittaker, R., Edwards, P., Zhou, W., Rodgers, A., Cairns, J., Kenward, MG., Roberts, I., Smoking cessation support delivered via mobile phone text messaging (txt2stop): a single-blind, randomised trial. Lancet 378(9785): 49–55, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Strandbygaard, U., Thomsen, SF., Backer, V., A daily SMS reminder increases adherence to asthma treatment: a three-month follow-up study. Respir Med 104(2): 166–71, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Vidal, C., Garcia, M., Benito, L., Milà, N., Binefa, G., Moreno, V., Use of text-message reminders to improve participation in a population-based breast cancer screening program. J Med Syst 38(9):118,2014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mao, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhai, S., Mobile phone text messaging for pharmaceutical care in a hospital in China. J Telemed Telecare 14(8): 410–4,2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dunn, D., Preoperative assessment criteria and patient teaching for ambulatory surgery patients. J Perianesth Nurs 13(5): 274–91,1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Shi, Y., Warner, DO., Brief preoperative smoking abstinence: is there a dilemma. Anesth Analg 113(6): 1348–51, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tait, AR., Malviya, S., Voepel-Lewis, T., Munro, HM., Seiwert, M., Pandit, UA., Risk factors for perioperative adverse respiratory events in children with upper respiratory tract infections. Anesthesiolog 95(2): 299–306, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dexter, F., Marcon, E., Epstein, RH., Ledolter, J., Validation of statistical methods to compare cancellation rates on the day of surgery. Anesth Analg 101(2): 465–73, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wei, J., Hollin, I., Kachnowski, S., A review of the use of mobile phone text messaging in clinical and healthy behaviour interventions. J Telemed Telecare 17(1): 41–8, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Fjeldsoe, BS., Marshall, AL., Miller, YD., Behavior change interventions delivered by mobile telephone short-message service. Am J Prev Med 36(2): 165–73, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lester, RT., Ritvo, P., Mills, EJ., Kariri, A., et al., Effects of a mobile phone short message service on antiretroviral treatment adherence in Kenya (WelTel Kenya1): a randomised trial. Lancet 376(9755): 1838–45, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ferschl, MB., Tung, A., Sweitzer, B., Huo, D., Glick, DB., Preoperative clinic visits reduce operating room cancellations and delays. Anesthesiology 103(4): 855–9, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bergvik, S., Wynn, R., The use of short message service (SMS) among hospitalized coronary patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 34(4): 390–7, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. O’Connor, JL., Gardner, EM., Mannheimer, SB., Lifson, AR., Esser, S., Telzak, EE., Phillips, AN., INSIGHT SMART Study Group., Factors associated with adherence amongst 5295 people receiving antiretroviral therapy as part of an international trial. J Infect Dis 208(1): 40–9, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Fenerty, SD., West, C., Davis, SA., Kaplan, SG,, Feldman, SR., The effect of reminder systems on patients’ adherence to treatment. Patient Prefer Adherence 6: 127–35, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pop-Eleches, C., Thirumurthy, H., Habyarimana, JP., et al., Mobile phone technologies improve adherence to antiretroviral treatment in a resource-limited setting: a randomized controlled trial of text message reminders. AIDS 25(8): 825–34, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Boker, A., Feetham, HJ., Armstrong, A., Purcell, P., Jacobe, H., Do automated text messages increase adherence to acne therapy? Results of a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 67(6): 1136–42, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ma, YQ., Mei, WH., Yin, P., Yang, XH., Rastegar, SK., Yan, JD., Prevalence of hypertension in Chinese cities: a meta-analysis of published studies. PLoS One, 8(3):e58302, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Yang, W., Lu, J., Weng, J., et al., China National Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Study Group. Prevalence of diabetes among men and women in China. N Engl J Med 362(12): 1090–101, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Ethical standards

The experiments comply with the current laws of our country.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Deng XQ, Wang YT, Zhu T, Zhang WY, Yin Y, Ye L designed the research; Deng XQ, Wang YT, Zhang WY performed the research; Yin Y, Ye L analyzed the data; Deng XQ and Zhu T wrote the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China

    Xiaoqian Deng, Yuting Wang, Tao Zhu, WeiYi Zhang, Yan Yin & Ling Ye

Authors
  1. Xiaoqian Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuting Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tao Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. WeiYi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yan Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ling Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tao Zhu.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mobile Systems

Appendix

Appendix

Whether they had an anti-hypertension drug on the morning of scheduled day

Whether they stopped taking hypoglycemic agents on the morning of scheduled day

Whether they brought a bronchodilator inhaler with them

Whether they had a severe respiratory tract infections on the scheduled day

Whether they had stopped smoking after the appointment

Whether they had sufficient fasting time and bowel preparation

Whether they arrived with an escort

Whether they brought any valuables into the examination room, such as a wallet or bag

Whether they wore flat shoes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deng, X., Wang, Y., Zhu, T. et al. Short Message Service (SMS) can Enhance Compliance and Reduce Cancellations in a Sedation Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Syst 39, 169 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0169-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0169-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation