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. 2015 Aug;49(2 Suppl 1):S57-64.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.03.018.

Impact of Reminder Systems in Clinical Settings to Improve Family Planning Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Lauren B Zapata  1 , Stephen J Tregear  2 , Marie Tiller  2 , Karen Pazol  3 , Nancy Mautone-Smith  4 , Loretta E Gavin  4
Affiliations

Impact of Reminder Systems in Clinical Settings to Improve Family Planning Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Lauren B Zapata et al. Am J Prev Med. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Context: This systematic review evaluated the evidence on the impact of family planning reminder systems-interventions intended to remind patients of behaviors to achieve reproductive health goals (e.g., daily text messages reminding oral contraceptive [OC] users to take a pill)-to provide information to guide national recommendations on quality family planning services.

Evidence acquisition: Multiple databases including PubMed were searched during 2010-2011 for peer-reviewed articles published in English from January 1985 through February 2011 describing studies evaluating reminder systems to improve family planning outcomes. Studies were excluded if they focused primarily on HIV or sexually transmitted infection prevention, focused solely on men, or were conducted outside the U.S., Europe, Australia, or New Zealand.

Evidence synthesis: The initial search identified 16,129 articles, five of which met the inclusion criteria. Three studies examined the impact of OC reminder systems; two found a statistically significant positive impact on correct use. Two studies examined the impact of reminder systems among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users; one found a statistically significant positive impact on correct use.

Conclusions: Although mixed support was found for the effectiveness of reminder system interventions on correct use of OCs and DMPA, the highest-quality evidence yielded null findings. The evidence base would be strengthened by the development of additional studies, especially RCTs, which objectively measure outcomes, examine additional contraceptive methods, and have sufficient sample sizes to detect behavioral outcomes at least 12 months post-intervention.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Analytic framework for systematic review on the impact of reminder systems in clinical settings to improve family planning outcomes. Note: Numbered lines map to key questions (Q). Dashed lines show logical relationships between outcomes, but these relationships were not assessed in this systematic review.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow chart of study selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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