The Effectiveness of Short Term Mobile Phone Text Reminders in Improving Compliance among Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Background:For the effective management of hypertension, drug adherence and life style modification are important. We investigated the effects of mobile phone text-message reminders on compliance and life style modification in patients with hypertension. Methods: The study was performed at family medicine outpatient clinics at 15 hospitals in South Korea from July 2008 to June 2010. Study subjects included 1,449 patients who were all prescribed candesartan cilexetil. Patients were randomly divided into two groups-mobile phone text-message reminder group and control group. In the reminder group, contents of text messages were recommendations for antihypertensive adherence, exercise, low salt diet, and reduction of weight and alcohol. In the control group, the date of next visit was sent at 10 week. Mobile phone text-messages were sent at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks by the coordinating center. Thereafter, they were followed up for 12 weeks. Chi-square test was performed to compare compliance and performance indexes of the two groups. Results: The reminder group had 719 (49.6%) patients vs. 730 (50.4%) patients in the control group. Attendance rate were 92.8% for the reminder group and 94.7% for the control group (P=0.14). 94.7% of the reminder group and 94.0% of the control group took their medication regularly (P=0.59). The target blood pressure was attained in 75.8% of the reminder group and 75.4% of the control group (P=0.87). Similarly, rates of weight loss, decreased alcohol use, increased physical activity and a low salt diet showed no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: In our study, mobile phone text reminders did not show to have any significant positive effect on the management of hypertension.

The Effect of Lifestyle Changes on Blood Pressure Control among Hypertensive Patients

“…This study is an additional analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the effect of mobile phone text message reminders on compliance and lifestyle modification in patients with hypertension. 8) …”

Self-management of Chronic Conditions Using mHealth Interventions in Korea: A Systematic Review

“…These devices were used in conjunction with mobile technology often through wireless or USB sharing. Four of the more recent studies utilized smartphone applications as the mode of delivery [ 15 16 17 18 ], and three of the interventions described SMS as their mode of delivery [ 19 20 21 ] ( Table 2 ).…”

“…A total of 6 studies measured dietary behavior/intake, outpatient attendance, health knowledge, medication adherence, self-care behavior, self-efficacy, and social support as proximal outcomes of interventions that directly influenced self-management behaviors [ 15 17 19 21 22 23 ]. Changes in distal outcomes, such as glucose level, blood pressure, fat level, and body size and composition were obtained in 13 studies.…”

“…Changes in distal outcomes, such as glucose level, blood pressure, fat level, and body size and composition were obtained in 13 studies. Three studies out of the 13 studies additionally measured patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), such as quality of life, treatment acceptance, and patient satisfaction [ 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ].…”

“…Even though the study results appeared to be inconsistent, 11 studies reported a statistically significant beneficial effect of mHealth intervention, which improved at least one outcome measure. Four studies found no effect of mHealth intervention and concluded that all the outcomes were not statistically significant [ 16 21 24 25 ]. However, none of the studies reported negative results related to behavior changes and biomarkers ( Table 3 ).…”