O11 Health promotional messages in short message service (SMS) follow-up of GU medicine clinic defaulters; a tool to improve subsequent attendance rates?

Abstract

diverse towns in four Australian states (total population 72 000 16e29-year-olds). To date, 27 towns have been randomised (13 intervention, 14 control). Intervention and control towns are similar: baseline chlamydia prevalence (5.8%, 95% CI 4.4 to 7.5% vs 5%, 95% CI 3.9 to 6.3%, individual response rate 63%); past chlamydia testing rate in 16e29-year-olds (6.1%, 95% CI 5.8 to 6.4% vs 5.8%, 5.6 to 6%). After 3 months of the intervention in the first two towns the chlamydia testing rate was 10.9% (95% CI 10.1% to 11.7%; 691 people tested), a 160% increase compared with the testing rate (4.1%) in the year before the intervention.Conclusions Our high recruitment rate shows that Australian GPs are willing to test for chlamydia. The baseline data show a high prevalence of chlamydia among young adults in the study towns. While testing rates are increasing, ongoing work is needed to get coverage up to levels that might reduce prevalence in intervention towns. Results Of the first 100 patients offered a test 83% of patients approached were assessed to have mental capacity to provide informed consent for testing. 69% of patients offered BBV testing, accepted. The prevalence of HIV was found to be 3%. One individual was newly diagnosed with HIV and transferred to specialist care. Overall, 18% of patients tested were found to have a newly diagnosed or previous infection with a BBV. Conclusion It is acceptable to patients to be offered routine BBV screening in a psychiatric setting and the majority have capacity to consent; uptake rate is comparable to that seen in GUM clinics. HIV prevalence rate was found to be over four times higher than that of the local population. Given the elevated prevalence rates in psychiatric patients, there is a strong case for the wider introduction of routine testing in mental health settings. There is a need to systematically ascertain rates of infection in mental health patients across a range of geographical areas since the prevalence of BBVs appears to be higher than that in the local population. Background In 2008, a schools-based HPV vaccination programme was introduced for girls aged 12e13, with an accelerated catch up programme for those aged 14e18. A significant impact on cervical cancer rates requires 80% uptake of three vaccinations, however in England the completion rate was 58% in 2009/10. O9Aim To compare HPV vaccination outcomes and prevalence of risk factors, associated with HPV acquisition and cervical cancer development, in young women attending GUM clinics with national data. Method An anonymous questionnaire was given to 13e19 y/old women attending 19 participating GUM clinics from March to August 2011. Data were analysed using multivariate linear regression in SPSS. Results 2247 questionnaires were completed (median respondent age 17). Compared to national data, respondents were more likely to be smokers (48% vs 12% of 15 y/olds), have had coitarche aged <16 (52% vs 26%), have had an STI previously (29% vs 13% for <16 coitarche) or not be in education, employment or trainin...

Targeting the Use of Reminders and Notifications for Uptake by Populations (TURNUP): a systematic review and evidence synthesis

“…In the study by Fairhurst and Sheikh, 64 only patients who failed to attend two or more appointments in preceding 12 months were included. Rutland et al 83 recorded a reduction in non-reattendance of 3.7%, while Fairhurst and Sheikh 64 demonstrated a reduction in the non-attendance rate of 5.3%. These rates appear fairly modest compared with some of those achieved in the general clinic population.…”

“…Perhaps the only trials that recognise a 'horses for courses' approach are the trials by Perron et al, 78 which used a progressive escalation procedure, and by Rutland et al, 83 which employed multiple complementary approaches. Car et al 43 identified one low-quality study that showed that mobile text message reminders with postal reminders, compared with postal reminders alone, improved rate of attendance at health-care appointments (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.19).…”

“…The study by Rutland et al 83 included all patients aged from 16 to 30 years who did not attend a booked GUM appointment during a 6-month study period. In the study by Fairhurst and Sheikh, 64 only patients who failed to attend two or more appointments in preceding 12 months were included.…”

Appointment reminder systems are effective but not optimal: Results of a systematic review and evidence synthesis employing realist principles

“…Examples of "Reminder plus" interventions include SMS notification of appointment with a health promotional message or postal reminders with additional information about medical procedures and the importance of follow-up. 70,72 A Cochrane Review 40 of Table 4 Judgement on quality of included trials (not already covered in included reviews)…”

“…Rutland et al 70 To determine whether SMS follow-up of patients who DNA booked GUM appointments improves subsequent re-attendance rates and to assess the impact of inclusion of a health promotional message on re-attendance rates.…”