Reducing missed clinic appointments for neurodevelopmental evaluations
Reducing Appointment NoShow Through Targeted Pre-appointment Messaging
This project will test different appointment reminder messages and a patient navigator to see if families scheduled for neurodevelopmental evaluations attend their appointments more reliably.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 5000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 1 Month to 24 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT06915480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized phase 3 trial will compare two enhanced reminder message texts against the current standard reminder language across two Kennedy Krieger outpatient clinics. Families identified as at elevated risk of missing appointments in the neuropsychological and psychological assessment center will be offered outreach from a patient navigator in addition to reminders. The navigator will gather qualitative information on barriers to attendance while the study analyzes which patients are highest risk and how the interventions perform across risk levels. Investigators will also examine whether these approaches increase socioeconomic diversity among patients who keep appointments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: All patients scheduled for evaluation at the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism or the Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment are enrolled for the reminder messages, and patients under 18 identified as at elevated risk are included in the patient navigation component.
Not a fit: Patients not seen at the participating Kennedy Krieger clinics and adults over 18 are not eligible for the navigation intervention and are unlikely to benefit from that component.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could reduce missed appointments, improving timely access to neurodevelopmental evaluation and follow-up care for children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown appointment reminders often reduce no-shows and patient navigation can improve visit completion in some settings, but combining enhanced messaging with targeted navigation in neurodevelopmental clinics is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All patients who are scheduled to be seen within the center for autism or the center for neuropsychological and psychological assessment for evaluation appointments will be automatically enrolled in the reminder message portion of the intervention trial. * Patients who are at elevated risk within the center for neuropsychological and psychological assessment are automatically enrolled in the patient navigator portion of the intervention trial. Exclusion criteria: * None for the messaging portion of the study * For patient navigation, patients \>18 years of age will be excluded.
Where this trial is running
Baltimore, Maryland
- Kennedy Krieger Institute — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: luther G kalb, PhD — Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
- Study coordinator: luther G kalb, PhD
- Email: kalb@kennedykrieger.org
- Phone: 4439239439
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.