Telephone Call Reminders Did Not Increase Screening Uptake More Than SMS Reminders: A Recruitment Study Within a Trial

2019-04-30

Bracken, Karen

Keech, Anthony

Hague, Wendy

Kirby, Adrienne

Robledo, Kristy P

Allan, Carolyn

Conway, Ann

Daniel, Mark

Gebski, Val

Grossmann, Mathis

Handelsman, David J

Inder, Warrick

Jenkins, Alicia

McLachlan, Robert

Stuckey, Bronwyn

Yeap, Bu B

Wittert, Gary

Participant recruitment

randomized controlled trials

recruitment strategies

study within a trial

telephone reminders

text message reminders

Journal Article

0000-0001-8261-3457

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.04.009

To compare the response rates and costs of phone call versus short message service (SMS) screening reminders to prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT) participants. A randomised evaluation within a large Australian diabetes prevention RCT. Participants were men aged 50-74 years, overweight or obese, without a previous Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Those eligible on a pre-screening questionnaire who did not attend a further screening assessment within four weeks were randomised to receive an SMS or phone call reminder (N=709). The primary outcome was attendance for further screening assessment within eight weeks of pre-screening. Attendance was 18% (62/354) in the SMS reminder group and 23% (80/355) in the phone reminder group, with no statistically significant difference in response according to reminder type (RR=1.29, 95% CI 0.96-1.73, p=0.09). The lower confidence limits for response to SMS (95% CI 14% - 22%) and phone reminders (95% CI 18% - 27%) did not include the eight-week attendance rate prior to this evaluation, 12%. Phone reminders cost substantially more than SMS reminders (AU$6.21 versus AU$0.53 per reminder). SMS reminders were as adequate a method as phone reminders to boost RCT screening uptake, and were considerably more affordable.

link

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2019; 112: 45-52

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology