Reducing VA No-Shows: Evaluation of Predictive Overbooking Applied to Colonoscopy

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

View full results

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

180 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-07-08

Study Completion Date

2016-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

In this research study, investigators use colonoscopy as a case example to evaluate a predictive overbooking model derived using patient-level predictors of absenteeism. The no-show overbooking intervention employs a logistic regression model that uses patient data to predict the odds of no-showing with 80% accuracy. These projected no-show appointments will be overbooked by clerks for patients who agree to join a "fast track" short-call line. By rapidly processing endoscopy patients and moving them out of traditional slots, investigators predict more scheduling slots would become available for patients awaiting colonoscopy.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Text Messaging to Improve Adherence To Repeat Colonoscopy In a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital

NCT06185374

Colorectal Cancer

COMPLETED NA

Validation of a Prediction Model for Inadequate Bowel Preparation

NCT06438237

Bowel Preparation Colonoscopy

COMPLETED

Impact of a Novel Patient Educational Booklet on Colonoscopy Quality

NCT00975247

Colon Cancer Colonoscopy

COMPLETED NA

A Randomized Control Trial of a Simulation-based Curriculum to Enhance Skills in Colonoscopy

NCT01991522

Colorectal Cancer

COMPLETED NA

Predictive Model Identifies Painful Sedation-free Colonoscopy

NCT06635941

Pain Non-sedated Colonoscopy

COMPLETED

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Patient "no-shows" are especially common in VA gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy units, where both open-access endoscopy scheduling and patient dislike of procedures contribute to high absenteeism. In this proposal, investigators use endoscopy as a case example to evaluate a predictive overbooking model derived using patient-level predictors of absenteeism. The no-show overbooking intervention employs a logistic regression model that uses patient data to predict the odds of no-showing with 80% accuracy. These projected no-show appointments will be overbooked by clerks for patients who agree to join a "fast track" short-call line. However, patients scheduled for upper endoscopies in the "fast track" assume a small risk of service denial on the day of their overbooking in case of inaccurate predictions. If this occurs, the patient is guaranteed service in the next available position and is assured of having a shorter wait time. Patients scheduled for colonoscopies will never be turned down but may experience delays in the waiting room the day of their "fast track" appointment. By rapidly processing endoscopy patients and moving them out of traditional slots, investigators predict more scheduling slots would become available for patients awaiting colonoscopy. Investigators propose to conduct a prospective, 24-month, interrupted time series (ITS) trial in the WLAVA (West Los Angeles Veterans Administration) GI clinic endoscopy unit. During intervention periods, investigators will activate the no-show predictive overbooking strategy described above. Investigators will compare outcomes between scheduling strategies, including differences in percent utilization of capacity (primary outcome), number of Veterans served, mean patient lag time between scheduling and procedure, number of unexpected service denials ("bumps") from no-show predictive overbooking, and direct costs of care. Investigators will analyze differences using both traditional univariate and multivariate approaches, and using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) analyses to adjust for auto-correlations in ITS data.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Colon Cancer

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Fast-tracked

'Predictive no-show overbooking' intervention. Patients who volunteer to enroll in "fast-track" line, which gives them an opportunity to overbook their appointment for endoscopy earlier in a predictive no-show slots.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Predictive no-show overbooking

Intervention Type OTHER

During intervention period, every Veteran scheduled for an endoscopy will be offered "fast-track" offer, which gives them a chance to get their endoscopy procedure done earlier than usual scheduling by overbooking their appointment in a predictive no-show slot.

Control

Patients who are scheduled routinely

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Predictive no-show overbooking

During intervention period, every Veteran scheduled for an endoscopy will be offered "fast-track" offer, which gives them a chance to get their endoscopy procedure done earlier than usual scheduling by overbooking their appointment in a predictive no-show slot.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients who are scheduled for upper endoscopy and agree to the terms of "fast track" offer.

Exclusion Criteria

* If a patient expresses concern about service denial, confusion about the bargain, or refuses to participate, the investigators will schedule these patients routinely.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes