Improving attendance in dental care for underserved populations
No-Show Prevention Practices in Dental Care Settings Serving Underserved Populations
This study is testing different ways to help people from underserved communities show up for their dental appointments, like sending reminders and offering walk-in visits, to see which methods work best.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Trial ID | NCT06581250 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate various interventions designed to reduce no-show rates in dental clinics that serve underserved populations. It will compare the effectiveness of reminder messages, motivation-enhanced communication, and walk-in visit options through a factorial cluster-randomized trial involving 40 dental clinics. Each clinic will be assigned to one of eight combinations of these interventions to assess their impact on patient attendance. The goal is to provide evidence-based strategies to enhance access to dental care for those in need.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are dental clinics that primarily serve self-pay and Medicaid patients.
Not a fit: Patients who do not attend dental clinics or are not part of underserved populations may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly improve dental care access for underserved populations by reducing appointment no-shows.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar interventions aimed at reducing no-show rates in healthcare settings, indicating a promising approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Sites must be: * Serve at least a 51 percent self-pay and Medicaid patients * Be willing to provide limited data sets of clinic data to the research team * Be willing to undertake and support and organizational improvement project to improve show rates Staff must be: * A paid staff member at a participating clinic * Be able and willing to provide written or verbal consent Exclusion Criteria: * No exclusion criteria for clinics or staff
Where this trial is running
Madison, Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin - Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Todd Molfenter, PhD — University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Study coordinator: Julie Horst
- Email: jhorst@wisc.edu
- Phone: 6082656322
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.