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Although health care recommendations should be agreed upon by a patient and her provider, patients cannot always follow these recommendations. Adherence remains low despite decades of research, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to tackle this problem. Interventions to improve adherence can capitalize on our reliance on technology. Digital technology interventions show promise in aiding patients attain and maintain their health care goals, including adherence to medication regimens and vaccination recommendations, receiving necessary treatment, attending appointments, and maintaining healthy behaviors. We present suggestions for clinicians who want to incorporate technologies to help their patients better engage in their health care.

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As the number of adolescents in the population is growing, it is even more important that healthcare practitioners are provided with the tools and resources that can best educate and connect with those patients at risk in this population, particularly with regard to sexual health behaviours. Notoriously, adolescents are difficult to engage in their own healthcare. However, with the advancement of technology and the ubiquitous use of cell phones, emerging studies suggest that there may be benefits to using text messaging within the adolescent health arena to encourage engagement, compliance and improve health knowledge. The use of text messaging has been implemented within adolescent healthcare in multiple ways but studies are needed to evaluate the content of messages, dosage and efficacy of text messaging in improving health outcomes in this population.

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