Telephone Reminder to Increase Appointment Rates

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Reminder Systems; Substance-Related Disorders
• Interventions: Other: Reminder plus (telephone call from therapist)

• Registration Number: NCT04707599
• Lead Sponsor: Sorlandet Hospital HF

Brief Summary

Missed appointments to outpatient substance use treatment are common and costly and can have a negative effect on the health of patients.

In this quasi-experimental study, the investigators used an on-off design to examine whether a reminder "plus" intervention (telephone call from therapist before first appointment) would increase attendance and improve cancellation and rebooking practices. Secondary outcomes included satisfaction with treatment and intention to complete the treatment program.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2016-12-31
• Study Completion: 2016-12-31
• Status Verified: 2021-01
• Study First Submitted: 2021-01-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-01-12
• Study First Posted: 2021-01-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-11-24
• Last Update Posted: 2023-11-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 147

Inclusion Criteria

• Newly referred patient
• > 18 years
• Diagnosis: Substance related disorder

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients who are unable to understand or score the survey due to cognitive or language barriers

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SEQUENTIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
ON intervention	Reminder plus (telephone call from therapist)	Reminder plus (telephone reminder from therapist) AND standard test message reminder (SMS) from second admission

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Attendance rate	Up to 10 treatment sessions, estimated average timeframe = 3 months	Attendance rate at first admission and during 10 outpatient sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cancellation / rebooking rate	Up to 10 treatment sessions, estimated average timeframe = 3 months	Examine difference in cancellation / rebooking rate between the two conditions. Data was collected from administrative patient records.
Dropout rate	Up to 10 treatment sessions, estimated average timeframe = 3 months	Dropout rate within 10 sessions - measured as formal discharge and/or "technical discharge" (3x no-shows)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Addiction Unit - Sørlandet Hospital; 🇳🇴 Kristiansand, Agder, Norway