Appointment RemindersNCT07829432
Preventing No-shows With Pre-appointment "Reserved for You" Nudges
A study testing Message in people with Appointment Reminders and Appointment Attendance, run by Geisinger Clinic at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The study team will run an A/B test to assess whether pre-appointment messages can reduce appointment no-shows. One message version will indicate the appointment is "reserved" for the patient; another version will be nearly identical but will not include the "reserved" language. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Appointment Reminders, Appointment Attendance
- What is being tested?
- Message
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 17,918 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Sep 2026to 22 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- at least a 50% probability of no-showing for the appointment based on the no-show algorithm
- eligible to be sent MyChart messages or text messages
- has an upcoming appointment in 10 days
Who cannot join
- Ancillary visits
- Nursing visits
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The study team will run an A/B test to assess whether pre-appointment messages can reduce appointment no-shows. One message version will indicate the appointment is "reserved" for the patient; another version will be nearly identical but will not include the "reserved" language. A passive control group will not be sent messages.
Read the detailed description
No-shows are a problem for health systems because they prevent appointment slots from being used by other patients waiting to be seen. Canceling at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment time helps ensure improved access for those patients who are waiting, as well as potentially improving the chances that the canceling patients will eventually be seen (by encouraging rescheduling). An algorithm in Epic attempts to predict which patients are at high risk for no-showing to their appointments. In the present initiative, Geisinger will send pre-appointment text messages and/or MyChart messages to patients predicted to be at high risk for no-showing to their appointment (>50% likely to no-show according to the algorithm).
Prior research suggests that telling patients a vaccine is "reserved for you" increases vaccine update (e.g., Milkman et al., 2021). However, it is unclear whether "reserved for you" language also motivates other health behaviors, like attending appointments.
The study team will run an A/B test to assess whether pre-appointment messages can reduce appointment no-shows. One message version will indicate the appointment is "reserved" for the patient; another version will be nearly identical but will not include the "reserved" language. A passive control group will not be sent messages.
Messages will be sent 10 days pre-appointment via MyChart or text message based on patient communication preferences.
For the primary analysis, we will include only the first appointment for every unique patient.
- Conditions
- Appointment Reminders, Appointment Attendance
- Being tested
- Message
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MessageBehavioural
The message will be sent via MyChart or text message depending on communication preferences for each patient.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Passive control | No intervention | Patient will not be sent a message |
| Message without "reserved" language | Experimental | Patient will be sent a message encouraging them to reschedule or cancel their appointment if they cannot attend. This message will NOT state the appointment is reserved for them. Receives: Behavioral: Message |
| Message with "reserved" language | Experimental | Patient will be sent a message encouraging them to reschedule or cancel their appointment if they cannot attend. This message WILL state the appointment is reserved for them. Receives: Behavioral: Message |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
No showed to appointment (y/n)
Patient no-showed to the target appointment
Measured: 1 day (10 days following the message date)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Sep 2026
- Study start22 Sep 2026
- Primary completion22 Oct 2026
- Study completion22 Oct 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Appointment RemindersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 17,918 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Geisinger Clinic
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gail Rosenbaum, Geisinger Clinic
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07829432
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-0690
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Preventing No-shows With Pre-appointment "Reserved for You" Nudges
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07829432
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2026-0690
- Conditions
- Appointment Reminders, Appointment Attendance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17,918 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Geisinger ClinicUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 22 Oct 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study team will run an A/B test to assess whether pre-appointment messages can reduce appointment no-shows. One message version will indicate the appointment is "reserved" for the patient; another version will be nearly identical but will not include the "reserved" language. A passive control group will not be sent messages.
Detailed description
No-shows are a problem for health systems because they prevent appointment slots from being used by other patients waiting to be seen. Canceling at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment time helps ensure improved access for those patients who are waiting, as well as potentially improving the chances that the canceling patients will eventually be seen (by encouraging rescheduling). An algorithm in Epic attempts to predict which patients are at high risk for no-showing to their appointments. In the present initiative, Geisinger will send pre-appointment text messages and/or MyChart messages to patients predicted to be at high risk for no-showing to their appointment (>50% likely to no-show according to the algorithm).
Prior research suggests that telling patients a vaccine is "reserved for you" increases vaccine update (e.g., Milkman et al., 2021). However, it is unclear whether "reserved for you" language also motivates other health behaviors, like attending appointments.
The study team will run an A/B test to assess whether pre-appointment messages can reduce appointment no-shows. One message version will indicate the appointment is "reserved" for the patient; another version will be nearly identical but will not include the "reserved" language. A passive control group will not be sent messages.
Messages will be sent 10 days pre-appointment via MyChart or text message based on patient communication preferences.
For the primary analysis, we will include only the first appointment for every unique patient.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Passive control | No intervention | –Patient will not be sent a message |
| Message without "reserved" language | Experimental | Behavioral: MessagePatient will be sent a message encouraging them to reschedule or cancel their appointment if they cannot attend. This message will NOT state the appointment is reserved for them. |
| Message with "reserved" language | Experimental | Behavioral: MessagePatient will be sent a message encouraging them to reschedule or cancel their appointment if they cannot attend. This message WILL state the appointment is reserved for them. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- at least a 50% probability of no-showing for the appointment based on the no-show algorithm
- eligible to be sent MyChart messages or text messages
- has an upcoming appointment in 10 days
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Ancillary visits
- Nursing visits
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MessageThe message will be sent via MyChart or text message depending on communication preferences for each patient. | Behavioural | Message with "reserved" language, Message without "reserved" language |
Primary outcome
No showed to appointment (y/n)
Time frame: 1 day (10 days following the message date)
Patient no-showed to the target appointment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Message in people with Appointment Reminders and Appointment Attendance, run by Geisinger Clinic at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
No showed to appointment (y/n) (time frame: 1 day (10 days following the message date)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Oct 2026.