Use of automated reminders for tuberculin skin test return.

Background: This study assessed the impact of automated telephone reminders on tuberculin skin test returns.

Methods: A total of 701 English-speaking and Spanish-speaking patients of a public health immunization program were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Those in the intervention group received an automated telephone reminder to return for the reading of their skin test.

Results: Automated telephone reminders significantly reduced return failures 53% (from 14% to 7%) when the scheduled interval between test administration and reading was three days, but had no impact for a two-day interval. Effectiveness of reminders did not differ significantly by patient age, gender, or language (English versus Spanish).

Conclusions: Results suggest the value of automated reminder calls for intra-appointment intervals as short as three days.