Telephone call reminders did not increase screening uptake more than SMS reminders: a recruitment study within a trial

Karen Bracken; Anthony Keech; Wendy Hague; Adrienne Kirby; Kristy P Robledo; Carolyn Allan; Ann Conway; Mark Daniel; Val Gebski; Mathis Grossmann; David J Handelsman; Warrick Inder; Alicia Jenkins; Robert McLachlan; Bronwyn Stuckey; Bu B Yeap; Gary Wittert

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.04.009

Telephone call reminders did not increase screening uptake more than SMS reminders: a recruitment study within a trial

J Clin Epidemiol. 2019 Aug:112:45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.04.009. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Authors

Karen Bracken¹, Anthony Keech², Wendy Hague², Adrienne Kirby², Kristy P Robledo², Carolyn Allan³, Ann Conway⁴, Mark Daniel⁵, Val Gebski², Mathis Grossmann⁶, David J Handelsman⁴, Warrick Inder⁷, Alicia Jenkins², Robert McLachlan³, Bronwyn Stuckey⁸, Bu B Yeap⁹, Gary Wittert¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: karen.bracken@ctc.usyd.edu.au.
² NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Clinical Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Anzac Research Institute and Andrology Department, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁶ Department of Medicine, The Austin Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁸ Keogh Institute of Medical Research and Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁹ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
¹⁰ Freemasons Foundation Centre for Mens Health, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

PMID: 31051248
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.04.009

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the response rates and costs of phone call vs. short message service (SMS) screening reminders to prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) participants.

Study design and setting: This study was a randomized 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 prescreening questionnaire who did not attend a further screening assessment within 4 weeks were randomized to receive an SMS or phone call reminder (N = 709). The primary outcome was attendance for further screening assessment within 8 weeks of prescreening.

Results: 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 (relative risk = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [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 8-week attendance rate before this evaluation, 12%. Phone reminders cost substantially more than SMS reminders (AU$6.21 vs. AU$0.53 per reminder).

Conclusion: SMS reminders were as adequate a method as phone reminders to boost RCT screening uptake and were considerably more affordable.

Keywords: Participant recruitment; Randomized controlled trials; Recruitment strategies; Study within a trial; Telephone reminders; Text message reminders.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cell Phone* / economics
Cell Phone* / statistics & numerical data
Costs and Cost Analysis
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis*
Humans
Male
Mass Screening* / methods
Mass Screening* / statistics & numerical data
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Patient Compliance
Research Design
Surveys and Questionnaires
Text Messaging* / economics
Text Messaging* / statistics & numerical data