Text reminders could boost breast cancer screening attendance, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that women who received a text message reminding them about their breast cancer screening appointment were 20 percent more likely to attend than those who were not texted.

"We all forget things now and then, and doctor's appointments are no exception -- in fact, forgetting is one of the most commonly cited reasons why women miss breast cancer screening appointments," Robert Kerrison, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "Our research found that a cheap, simple text-message-reminder could boost the number of women -- especially those from deprived areas -- attending screening, or cancelling in advance. More trials are needed to confirm this, but texting could save valuable NHS resources."

For the study, researchers trialed text message reminders for women aged 47-53 years old who were invited for their first appointment for breast cancer screening.

The team compared around 450 women who were sent a text with 435 women who did not receive a text. It found that 72 percent of women who were sent a text message reminder attended their screening appointment, compared with 60 percent who were not.

They found that text message reminders had the biggest impact on women from the most deprived areas who were 28 per cent more likely to attend their first screening appointment if they were sent a text.

The research also found that women were almost three times more likely to cancel their appointment in advance if they were sent a text message reminder.

"The potential positive impact the study could have on the UK population's health is huge and goes far beyond the borders of London where the text message service was originally trialed," said Ian Lush, chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare Charity. "Research outcomes like this confirm the need for the charity to continue funding such pioneering work which will continue to help improve the health of the population."

The findings are detailed in the British Journal of Cancer.