Text Messaging Follow-up From ED

Not Applicable

Withdrawn

• Conditions: Text Messaging
• Interventions: Behavioral: Text Messaging

• Registration Number: NCT03370978
• Lead Sponsor: University of Iowa

Brief Summary

Ensuring follow-up for patients after discharge from the emergency department (ED) has long been a concern for ED care providers. The current technology of text messaging may be able to assist us in improving follow-up rates. In addition, having a quick and easy communication tool to be in touch with providers may improve overall patient satisfaction. This study is designed to evaluate the usage of text messaging to improve follow-up appointment compliance from the Emergency Department. In this study, a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be performed (involving patients scheduled by Emergency Department Nurse Navigators to follow up with Family Medicine) in which patients will be randomized to a texting appointment reminder versus standard-of-care (no texting reminder) group. Texted patients will receive reminders 3 days and 1 day prior to their follow-up appointment. In addition, the patients will have the ability to text back-and-forth with the Nurse Navigators in order to ask questions/request clarification if needed. Chart review will be performed of both groups to evaluate the number of follow-up appointments that patients attended versus rescheduled versus did not attend/reschedule. These values will then be compared to the retrospective chart review previously performed to evaluate for non-inferiority of text messaging as a means of improving patient attendance at follow-up appointments.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2017-12-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-12-07
• Study First Posted: 2017-12-13
• Study Start: 2019-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2020-05-01
• Study Completion: 2020-05-01
• Status Verified: 2021-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-04-28
• Last Update Posted: 2021-04-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: WITHDRAWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: Not specified

Inclusion Criteria

1. At least 18 years old
2. Able to read, write and communicate in English - English as the primary language
3. Has a phone with capabilities for text messaging
4. Identifies oneself as someone who is comfortable with text messaging.
5. To follow-up with Family Medicine as outpatient (Scheduled through Emergency Department Nurse Navigators).
6. Evaluated in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Department

Exclusion Criteria

1. Absence of one or more inclusion criteria
2. Not able to provide informed consent or participate due to limited decision-making ability.
3. Prisoner
4. Previously has followed with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Family Medicine (i.e., would not be a "new" patient establishing care).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Text Messaging	Text Messaging	Receives text messages to remind of upcoming follow-up appointment with primary care doctor. Also provides opportunity for subjects to text ED staff for follow-up care concerns or to reschedule primary care appointment.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Attending Primary Care Appointment	Less than 6 months	Attending appointment versus rescheduling versus not showing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States