Spanning generations-appointment reminder preferences among patients with rheumatic diseases

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Rheumatology clinics require regular patient attendance for disease assessment and medication monitoring.
• Appointment no-shows can negatively impact patient care and clinic efficiency.
• Understanding patient preferences for appointment reminders is crucial for optimizing clinic operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the preferred methods and timing for appointment reminders among patients attending rheumatology clinics.
• To identify if reminder preferences differ across various generational age groups.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was administered to patients at a rheumatology clinic.
• Patients reported their age and preferences for reminder modality (e.g., phone call, SMS) and timing.
• Data were analyzed overall and stratified by generational age groups (Generation Y, X, Baby Boomers, Silent, GI Generation).

Main Results:

• Nearly all patients (99.5%) found appointment reminders favorable.
• The most preferred reminder timing was 4 days or less before the appointment (72%).
• Telephone calls were the most preferred modality overall (52%), while SMS/text messaging was least preferred (4%), except among Generation Y patients who favored SMS/text (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Appointment reminders are highly valued by rheumatology patients.
• While telephone calls are generally preferred, younger patients (Generation Y) show a significant preference for SMS/text reminders.
• Tailoring reminder modalities to generational preferences, particularly for younger demographics, may help reduce clinic nonattendance.