Frank Bruns,Anne Caroline  Knöchelmann,Christoph  Henkenberens,Hans  Christiansen,
Non-Attendance to Post-Radiotherapy Follow-Up in Breast Cancer: Efficacy of Mail and Telephone Reminders
Clinical Oncology and Research
2020
2613-4942
http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.COR.2020.08.03
https://www.sciencerepository.org/non-attendance-to-post-radiotherapy-follow-up-in-breast-cancer_COR-2020-8-103 
Abstract: Background: To assess the efficacy of two reminder interventions in improving post-radiotherapy followup attendance rates of breast cancer patients.
Methods: Three periods of three months were assessed, a baseline period, an intervention period and a
confirmation period. In the intervention period, a two-step reminder system was used. This system consisted
of a mail reminder (IV1) that was sent to all patients three to four weeks prior to the post-radiotherapy
follow-up visit, which was followed by up to two telephone calls (IV2) for all patients who did not attend
this follow-up visit. During the confirmation period, IV2 was used exclusively to assess the maximal
possible efficacy of the telephone reminder.
Results: The non-attendance rate of breast cancer patients was 18.1% (19/105) in the baseline period; this
rate decreased to 13.1% in the intervention period (23/176; p=0.33) after IV1 and then decreased to 6.3%
(11/176; p=0.03) after IV2. In the confirmation period, 24.4% (42/172) of breast cancer patients did not
attend their post-radiotherapy follow-up visit; the non-attendance rate decreased significantly after
(exclusive) IV2 from 24.4% (42/172) to 9.3% (16/172; p<0.001). Significance was observed for the first
call but not for the second call in the chi-square test.
Conclusion: Telephone reminder is an effective tool for improving breast cancer patient adherence to the
post-radiotherapy follow-up visit. In this study, the telephone reminder system was more effective than the
mail reminder system.Keywords: Reminder, non-attendance, post-radiotherapy follow-up, breast cancer