Use of Automated Telephone Reminders to Increase Elderly Patients' Adherence to Tuberculosis Medication Appointments

Elderly patients (N=617) with scheduled appointments in a public health clinic tuberculosis clinic either received or did not receive an automated telephone reminder the evening before their appointment. Patients in this population were primarily non-English speaking immigrants who received reminders in their own language. Automated reminders decreased nonadherence 21% (from 29% to 23%), and this impact did not differ across ethnic groups.

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