Feasibility of a text-mediated recall system to increase cardiovascular disease risk assessment in general practice:...

The uptake of formal cardiovascular disease risk assessment in the primary prevention setting is low. We tested the feasibility of an SMS recall system to invite eligible patients for a Heart Health Check in Australian general practice.

Of 332 general practices that expressed interest in the study, 231 were randomised to either an intervention or wait list control group. Intervention general practices sent SMS invitations linked to digital information to eligible patients via general practice software. Deidentified baseline and two-month data were extracted via clinical audit software. A survey was administered to 35 intervention general practices.

General practice visits were similar between the control and intervention groups, but Heart Health Check billing increased 14-fold in the intervention group.

This study showed that an SMS recall system for Heart Health Checks can be effective and acceptable in general practice. The findings will inform a broader implementation trial over 2022-23.