Implementation of a text messaging intervention to patients on warfarin therapy in Brazilian primary care units: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background Warfarin remains the most affordable oral anticoagulant in many countries. However, it may have serious side effects, and the success of the therapy depends on the patient’s understanding of the medication and their adherence to treatment. The use of short messages services (SMS) is a strategy that can be used to educate patients, but there are no studies evaluating this intervention in patients taking warfarin. Therefore, we aimed to develop, implement, and assess the feasibility of an intervention using SMS to primary care patients taking warfarin in a medium-sized Brazilian city. Methods A bank of 79 SMS was drafted and validated by an expert panel. During 6 months, three times a week, patients received messages about anticoagulation with warfarin. At baseline and after 3 months, we assessed their knowledge and adherence with validated instruments. At the end of the follow-up, participants answered a satisfaction questionnaire. Subsequently, a scale-up phase was conducted, with another round of the intervention including 82 participants (29 from the first phase and 53 newly recruited). Seven months after the end of the scale-up, we asked the patients for their insights about the long-term effects of this program. All patients signed informed consent. The study was approved by the Research and Ethics committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Results In the pilot, 33 (89.2%) patients completed the follow-up. Among the participants who answered the satisfaction questionnaire (n = 29), 86.2% considered that the intervention motivated a healthy lifestyle and improved their understanding of warfarin therapy. All patients were willing to continue receiving the messages. Adherence measured by the Measure of Adherence to Treatment (MAT) test was high in the pre-intervention assessment and remained high (96.7% vs. 93.3%; p = 1.0000). The proportion of patients who achieved > 75% correct answers on the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) test increased from 6.5% to 25.6, p = 0.0703. In the scale-up, 23 patients answered the long-term assessment questionnaire. The main long-term knowledge reported was dietary information. Nine patients received the messages but did not remember their content. Conclusion The intervention was well-accepted and had a positive impact on patient’s knowledge about oral anticoagulation therapy. The scale-up assessment reinforced the need to constantly monitor digital interventions.

Effect of SMS Ward Round Notifications on Inpatient Experience in Acute Medical Settings: A Retrospective Cohort Study (Preprint)

“…With the development of communication devices such as cellular phones and smartphones, text messaging via SMS is increasingly used to enhance effective communication with patients and carers [13,14]. In our institution, the WR-SMS was developed and introduced to inform inpatients about the start of ward rounds in real time to improve their opportunities to participate in them.…”

“…As mobile devices continue to advance, text messaging has been suggested to enhance clear and efficient communication in various clinical contexts [13,14]. However, there remains a gap in research regarding the potential impact of informing patients about round times via text messages on communication effectiveness and patient satisfaction.…”