Effect of Text Message Reminders on Cervical Cancer Screening Rates at the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice: A Quality Improvement Study

Abstract

In New York, cervical cancer incidence is higher in non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women, and cervical cancer mortality is highest in non-Hispanic Black women. Areas where predominantly Black and Hispanic communities reside are shown to have 73% higher rates of incidence of cervical cancer. It is critical to develop targeted low-cost interventions such as text message reminders as a wide-reaching tool to increase cervical cancer screening rates in these populations. Investigators conducted retrospective chart reviews at the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice in East Harlem to include all eligible patients according to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for cervical cancer screening. Text message reminders were sent to patients due for cervical cancer screening to schedule their Pap smears. The cervical cancer screening rates of eligible patients, previously at 46.10% pre-intervention, increased to 57.80% post-intervention, with an absolute increase of 26.51% in the group of non-adherent patients. With mobile communication being a key feature in most electronic medical record systems, this cost-effective tool can be easily scaled and further enhanced with other targeted interventions.