Ask for appointment text reminders
Let the service remind you, then turn the text into a plan for getting there.
Moderate certaintygeneral health evidence
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; we say so because 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 The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of 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.