Texting decreases the time to treatment for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a text message result service within an inner London sexual health clinic. Method: Demographic data, diagnoses, and time to diagnosis and treatment were collected over a 6 month period for patients receiving text messages and a matched standard recall group. Data on messages sent, staff time, and cost in relation to result provision were collected. Results: Over a 6 month period 952 text messages were sent. In the final month of analysis, 33.9% of all clinic results were provided by text, resulting in a saving of 46 hours of staff time per month. 49 messages requested that the patient return for treatment, 28 of these patients had untreated genital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection. The mean number of days (SD) to diagnosis was significantly shorter in the text message group (TG) v the standard recall group (SG) (7.9 (3.6) v 11.2 (4.7), p ,0.001). The median time to treatment was 8.5 days (range 4-27 days) for the TG group v 15.0 (range 7-35) for SG, p = 0.005. Conclusion: Patients with genital CT infection are diagnosed and receive treatment sooner since the introduction of a text message result service. The introduction of this service has resulted in a significant saving in staff time.I n genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics a significant proportion of staff time is taken up providing the results of sexual health screens. In a recent cross directorate survey we identified an average of 120 hours per month were required for this purpose.1 In the majority of cases these results are negative.2 Providing this service diverts staff time and resources from seeing new patients and managing patients with diagnosed infections, and increases the waiting time for an appointment and the time patients spend in clinic. It has been shown that extended waiting times adversely impact on first time attendance of young men.

Text messaging reminders to reduce non-attendance in chronic disease follow-up: a clinical trial

“…The healthcare system is beginning to test and apply this technology in different ways in order to improve patient care. [17][18][19] In a qualitative study looking at asthma outpatient non-attendance, patients spontaneously brought up the subject of text messaging as a reminder of future appointments. 3 The present study is important because it attempted to investigate the feasibility of using a new innovation in health service delivery to reduce nonattendance.…”

Potential impact of text message reminders on non-attendance at outpatient clinics

“…General practitioners may be forced to institute treatment measures as intermediate solutions and often these prove sufficient to alleviate symptoms. Text messages are a well-described mode of communication in the medical literature and reported uses include reduction of anxiety of surgical patients' families in Taiwan [10], reduction of HbA1C in patients with type 2 diabetes in Korea [11] and decreasing time to treatment for genital Chlamydia in London [12]. Casey et al [2] reported that Irish patients interviewed would most like to be reminded of clinic appointment by phone (37%), followed by letter (36%), text message (34%) and only 6% by email.…”

Benefits and Costs of Digital Consulting in Clinics Serving Young People With Long-Term Conditions: Mixed-Methods Approach (Preprint)

“…Much of the research has focused only on the 'effectiveness' of digital communication [18][19][20]. This may be because the direct costs to services of using text, mobile or internet communication appears low [21,22].…”