Text message prompts improve diabetes self management

Cell phone-based text message prompts help patients better manage their diabetes, according to a report at CMIO.net on a recent clinical study.

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care analyzed whether sending text messages could engage adult patients in better self-management behaviors between clinic visits.

Diabetes patients in the study received text message prompts over a three-month period to measure blood sugar and to remind them about upcoming appointments.

Blood glucose readings were requested three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reminders were sent seven, three and one day(s) prior to the scheduled appointment.

The study found that 66 percent of patients provided blood sugar readings when prompted by text messages. Before the study at clinic visits, only 12 percent provided those readings.

Results also showed that more than three-fourths (79 percent) of the participants responded to more than half of their cell phone prompts.

During focused groups in English and Spanish, the participants reported increased social support and feelings that the program “made them feel accountable." The prompts also raised their awareness of health information.

“Patients need to manage chronic diseases on a daily basis, yet US healthcare systems are not well structured to support self management across large patient populations,” according to the research paper. “Both patients and providers express frustration with the standard approach to managing chronic disease through the 20-minute provider-driven clinic visit."

The study was conducted by the Denver Health of Hospital Authority, the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the Colorado School of Public Health.

Participants were receiving regular care at a community health center in Denver that serves a propulation that is predominantly uninsured or on Medicare or Medicaid.

Text message usage exploding
Text message usage is on the rise. Some 196.9 billion text messages are sent each month, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association. This compares to 12.5 billion a month just five years earlier.

The CTIA also reports that wireless penetration in the US equals 102.4 percent. This means that there are more cell phones than people in the country.

CTIA also reports that 31.6 percent of US households are wireless only and do not have a landline installed.

Sources: The American Journal of Managed Care, CMIO.net, CTIO-The Wireless Association