AI Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to reduce the rate at which patients do not respond to validation letters sent by hospitals, using a redesigned letter that included "nudges" as an intervention.
- A total of 2,855 participants were divided into a control group receiving the standard letter and an intervention group receiving the new version.
- Results showed that the intervention group had a significantly lower non-response rate (19.24%) compared to the control group (23.97%), leading to improved patient compliance with the validation process, which has now been adopted by public hospitals in Ireland.
Article Abstract
Objective: A commonly adopted intervention to help to reduce wait times for hospital treatment is administrative validation, where administrators write to patients to check if a procedure is still required. The did not return (DNR) rate to validation letters is substantial. We tested whether the DNR rate was reduced by introducing nudges to validation letters.
Methods: Participants from eight public hospitals (N = 2855; in 2017) in Ireland were randomized to receive an existing (control group) or a redesigned validation letter including nudges (intervention group).
Results: Participants in the intervention group were less likely not to return it than those in the control group, OR = .756, SE = .069, p = .002. Control and intervention group DNR rates were 23.97% and 19.24%. This is equivalent to 1 in 5 non-responders changing their behaviour because of the redesigned letter.
Conclusions: The redesigned letter increased patient compliance with the validation process. The redesign has subsequently been adopted by public hospitals in Ireland.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117343 | DOI Listing |
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