Effect of Modality on Discharge Instruction in Patients Receiving Outpatient Antibiotic Prescriptions From the Emergency Department

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Modality of Discharge Instructions
• Interventions: Other: Text Message; Other: Voicemail

• Registration Number: NCT01775969
• Lead Sponsor: Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute

Brief Summary

Outpatient antibiotics are frequently prescribed from the emergency department, and limited health literacy may impact compliance with recommended treatments. The investigators are looking to determine if patient preference for multimodality discharge instructions for outpatient antibiotic therapy varies by health literacy level, and if modality effected patient-reported antibiotic compliance and 72-hour antibiotic pick-up.

Detailed Description

This is a prospective randomized trial that includes consenting patients discharged with outpatient antibiotics. Health literacy is assessed using a validated health literacy assessment, the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Patients are randomized to a discharge instruction modality: 1) standard of care, typed and verbal medication and case-specific instructions; 2) standard of care plus text messaged instructions sent to the patient's cell phone; or 3) standard of care plus voicemailed instructions sent to the patient's cell phone. Antibiotic pick-up is verified with the patient's pharmacy at 72 hours. Patients are called at 30 days to determine antibiotic compliance.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-05
• Study First Submitted: 2013-01-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-01-24
• Study First Posted: 2013-01-25
• Primary Completion: 2013-02
• Study Completion: 2013-02
• Status Verified: 2013-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-10-24
• Last Update Posted: 2013-10-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2874

Inclusion Criteria

• Emergency department patient being prescribed an outpatient antibiotic or the parent of a patient under the age of 18 being prescribed on outpatient antibiotic

Exclusion Criteria

• Doesn't have a cell phone that can receive text messages and voicemail messages
• Unable to provide informed consent
• Prisoners

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Text Message	Text Message	Written discharge instructions plus a text message with antibiotic prescription instructions
Voicemail	Voicemail	Written discharge instructions plus a voicemail with antibiotic prescription instructions

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
72-hour antibiotic pickup	72 hours	Whether or not the patient picked up their antibiotic prescription at the pharmacy
Antibiotic compliance	30 days	If the patient completed the entire course of antibiotics

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hennepin County Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States