We evaluated the effects of an educational intervention and telephone reminders on compliance with medication-taking and appointment-keeping for children with otitis media. During an initial interview we examined parents' health beliefs and other factors associated with compliance in our outpatient setting. The children were then systematically assigned to one of five study groups (G1-5). Parents in G1 received an educational session with a nurse and two follow-up telephone reminders. Parents in G2 received only two telephone reminders. Parents in G3 met with the nurse for an educational session only. Parents in G4 were exempted from interventions, while parents in G5 were exempted from the interventions and the initial interview. The telephone reminder significantly increased the return rate for follow-up appointments (p less than 0.05). This effect was not enhanced by combining it with an educational intervention focusing more on medication compliance. Relatively simple and inexpensive interventions such as the ones described here improve follow-up appointment-keeping for children with otitis media. This enhanced compliance behavior is important in obtaining better health outcomes for children with acute illnesses.