To evaluate the efficacy of mobile phone messaging reminders for assessing the patient compliance

Missed appointments are a major cause of inefficacy in healthcare delivery, leading to delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Patient reminders help reducing missed appointments. Mobile phone messaging, has shown to be a effective reminder in reducing non-attendance. Mobile phone text messaging, a telecommunication technology, offers an alternative strategy to the conventional reminder systems. Studies have also shown that using text messaging reminders was more cost-effective than telephone reminders. Text messaging potentially improves patient care by specifically targeting a population that would benefit most from attending. Aim: To determine effectiveness of mobile phone text messaging in improving the attendance of the patients reporting to the Department of Periodontology. Material and Methods: A total of 300 subjects reporting to the Department of Periodontology from December 2015 to February 2016 were included in the study and were randomized into two groups: text messaging reminder and no reminder. Inclusion criteria-age group 25 to 50 years Test group- 150 Subjects receiving mobile phone message reminder for the appointment. Control group- 150 Subjects not receiving any reminder. The participants returning for the appointments from both group, were included in Compliant groups and who didn’t return for the appointment were included in Non-Compliant. Result: Test group – 118 patients out of total of 150 returned for the appointment. Control group – 84 patients out of total of 150 returned for the appointment. Conclusion: The SMS reminders to the patient improved the attendance along with the compliance.