Period: July 2024 – April 2025

Summary: The project aims to evaluate the impact of appointment reminders via WhatsApp in reducing absenteeism in outpatient shifts in the public health system of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the aim is to generate empirical evidence on the effectiveness of this intervention, implemented between April 2023 and March 2024. 

The project uses a modern causal inference methodology to estimate the impact of WhatsApp reminders on reducing absenteeism in the public health system. The methodology includes emulating a “target trial” or simulated clinical trial with observational data, an approach that allows replicating the conditions of a randomized trial with the available information. The analysis will focus on comparing the effects of four strategies: sending two reminders (~72 and ~24 hours before), a single reminder (~72 hours before or ~24 hours before), and not sending reminders.

In terms of cost assessment, a comprehensive analysis will be conducted to estimate both the costs associated with implementing the different reminder strategies and the costs arising from absenteeism. The opportunity costs and potential economic savings from reducing absenteeism will be modelled, considering factors such as healthcare staff time, unused hospital infrastructure and the need to reschedule appointments.

The results of the cost analysis and causal impact will be integrated to provide clear, evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving appointment management and the efficiency of the public health system.

Funder: IDB