SynthesisBMJ open2016
Using digital notifications to improve attendance in clinic: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 49 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
49 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 99 citations in OpenAlex.
- Predictive model-based interventions to reduce outpatient no-shows: a rapid systematic review.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2023Pooled it
- Which patients miss appointments with general practice and the reasons why: a systematic review.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2021Pooled it
- Strategies to improve retention in randomised trials.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Effectiveness of text messaging interventions on prevention, detection, treatment, and knowledge outcomes for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Efficacy of a mobile phone application for the improvement of oral hygiene of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment : A randomized controlled clinical trial.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2025Trial
- The use of text messages as an alternative invitation method for breast cancer screening: A randomized controlled trial (M-TICS study).PloS one · 2024Trial
- Pragmatic Randomized Study of Targeted Text Message Reminders to Reduce Missed Clinic Visits.The Permanente journal · 2022Trial
- Longer-term efficiency and safety of increasing the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): extension study of a randomised trial of 20 757 blood donors.The Lancet. Haematology · 2019Trial
- Effect of automated messaging on oral hygiene in adolescent orthodontic patients: A randomized controlled trial.The Angle orthodontist · 2019Trial
- Patient and carer perceptions and experiences of technology-facilitated appointment reminders in healthcare: a scoping review.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2026Article
- Fluoride varnish application as an oral health intervention in the well-baby clinic for children aged 1-5 years at Qatar University Health Center: a feasibility study.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Addressing the causes of 'missingness' in healthcare: a co-designed suite of interventions.BMC medicine · 2026Article
- Radiology appointment management in German hospitals: a survey of referring physicians.Insights into imaging · 2026Article
- The Association of Vertically Integrated Delivery Networks on Lapses in Diabetic Retinopathy Care and Presenting Diabetic Retinopathy Severity.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Article
- Enhancing District Health Center membership among older adults through intergenerational home-based and AI-generated digital interventions: protocol for a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Patient preferences and perceived barriers to follow-up care in a pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program: a national survey.Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2025Article
- The influence of type of consultation and patient characteristics on non-attendence at adult ADHD consultation.BJPsych bulletin · 2025Article
- No-Shows in a Tertiary Care Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic: Predictors and Impact on Provider Productivity.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025Article
- Efficient patient care in the digital age: impact of online appointment scheduling in a medical practice and a university hospital on the "no-show"-rate.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesAssess the impact of text-based electronic notifications on improving clinic attendance, in relation to study quality (according to risk of bias), and to assess simple ways in which notifications can be optimised (ie, impact of multiple notifications).
designSystematic review, study quality appraisal assessing risk of bias, data synthesised in meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (01.01.05 until 25.4.15). A systematic search to discover all studies containing quantitative data for synthesis into meta-analyses. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies examining the effect of text-based electronic notifications on prescheduled appointment attendance in healthcare settings. Primary analysis included experimental studies where randomisation was used to define allocation to intervention and where a control group consisting of 'no reminders' was used. Secondary meta-analysis included studies comparing text reminders with voice reminders. Studies lacking sufficient information for inclusion (after attempting to contact study authors) were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were rate of attendance/non-attendance at healthcare appointments. Secondary outcome was rate of rescheduled and cancelled appointments.
results26 articles were included. 21 included in the primary meta-analysis (8345 patients receiving electronic text notifications, 7731 patients receiving no notifications). Studies were included from Europe (9), Asia (7), Africa (2), Australia (2) and America (1). Patients who received notifications were 23% more likely to attend clinic than those who received no notification (risk ratio=1.23, 67% vs 54%). Those receiving notifications were 25% less likely to 'no show' for appointments (risk ratio=.75, 15% vs 21%). Results were similar when accounting for risk of bias, region and publication year. Multiple notifications were significantly more effective at improving attendance than single notifications. Voice notifications appeared more effective than text notifications at improving attendance.
conclusionsElectronic text notifications improve attendance and reduce no shows across healthcare settings. Sending multiple notifications could improve attendance further.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.