Text-messaging versus telephone reminders to reduce missed appointments in an academic primary care clinic: a randomized controlled trial

Table 4 Cost-comparisons between both types of reminders based on current telecommunication costs in Switzerland (in Euros)

	Items	Text-message reminder group	Telephone reminder group
COST
Telecommunication cost
(0.07 €/text-message)	3281 appointments	230.-
(0.08 €/phone call)	2626 appointments*		210.-
Administrative work to make manual phone calls during 6 months (30%) (€)			8’700.-
Total costs (€)		230.-	8910.-
BENEFITS
Nr of additional appointments attended compared to the 14% rate of missed appointments before the intervention (Fees =80(€) per consultation)	84 for text message	6’720.-
	122 for telephone		9’760.-
Net benefits (€)		6490.-	850.-

ISSN: 1472-6963