Ask for appointment text reminders
Moderate certaintygeneral health evidence
Let the service remind you, then plan how you'll get there.
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Look up your next appointment and ask yourself if the service has your current phone number.
5 minutes
Check the reminder options for one upcoming appointment.
15 minutes
Confirm one appointment's details and add the preparation and travel time to your calendar.
A plan
Make reminders actionable
- Check contact details with one service.
- Enable its reminder option if available.
- Turn incoming reminders into a practical attendance plan.
How sure the science is
Moderate certainty, general health evidence
- The number is probably close, but more research could move it.
- Measured in the general population.
- ADHD trials of this do not exist or are too small.
Cochrane 2013: moderate-quality evidence, seven studies and 5,841 participants, RR 1.14 versus no reminders; not ADHD-specific.
The number, drawn
Text reminders raised appointment attendance by about 14%, relative (risk ratio 1.14)
Why it matters
- Text reminders raised attendance at healthcare appointments in a Cochrane review, a risk ratio of 1.14 from seven studies of 5,841 people, with moderate-quality evidence.
- That means about 14% higher attendance in relative terms, not 14 percentage points.
- None of the studies were in ADHD, but NIMH notes that adults with ADHD may find it hard to keep appointments, so a reminder you can act on is especially useful.
How to do it
- Find out if the service sends text reminders for appointments.
- Make sure it has your right number and the way you like to be contacted.
- When a reminder comes in, check the date, the place and anything you need to prepare.
- Put travel or connection time in your calendar, and use the service's own way to rebook if you need to.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- Check the clinic has your current number while booking.
- Turn the text into a calendar entry that includes when to leave home.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeThe reminder goes to an old phone number. Confirm your contact details when you book.
- Common mistakeThe text arrives and you still forget the journey. Add a separate prompt for when to leave home.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- B Trials in ADHD with low certainty, or strong general health evidence with a sourced reason it matters more with ADHD.
- The number
- Text reminders raised appointment attendance by about 14%, relative (risk ratio 1.14) (Cochrane, 2013)
- Benefit
- 49/100 An editorial priority for the general list, weighted by certainty. It does not predict what will happen for you.
- Effort
- Quick win
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineMobile phone messaging reminders for attendance at healthcare appointmentsCochrane, 2013
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD in Adults: 4 Things to KnowNIMH, 2024
- Tier 1 guidelineSupport Available (Adult ADHD Services)East London NHS Foundation Trust, 2026
- General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.
- Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you.
- Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.