Reducing missed dental appointments for underserved communities
No-Show Prevention Practices in Dental Care Settings Serving Underserved Populations
This study is looking for better ways to help people keep their dental appointments, especially in communities that need more support, by trying out different methods like friendly reminder calls and flexible scheduling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11061300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates ways to decrease the number of missed dental appointments, particularly in clinics serving underserved populations. The team will test three different strategies: using Motivational Interviewing techniques when scheduling, making reminder calls before appointments, and implementing open-access scheduling. By employing a unique design that allows for testing various combinations of these strategies, the researchers aim to identify the most effective methods to improve appointment attendance. This could lead to better access to dental care and more efficient use of resources in these communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals from underserved communities who utilize dental care services.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require dental care or those who have consistent attendance at dental appointments may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to dental care for underserved populations by reducing appointment no-shows.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown some success in reducing no-show rates in healthcare settings, but this specific approach in dental care is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molfenter, Todd David — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Molfenter, Todd David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.