Peer-Reviewed BCC Articles According to Study Type
Table of Contents
Effectiveness Studies: 4
1) Supportive intervention using a mobile phone in behavior modification. 4
2) Efficacy of a cell phone-based exercise program for COPD. 5
3) Impact of a nurse short message service intervention for patients with diabetes. 5
4) Effectiveness of an intervention to provide information to patients with hypertension as short text messages and reminders sent to their mobile phone (HTA-Alert) 6
5) Can wireless text messaging improve adherence to preventive activities? Results of a randomized controlled trial 7
6) Use of mobile telephone short message service (SMS) as a reminder: the effect on patient attendance 7
7) Happy ending: a randomized controlled trial of a digital multi-media smoking cessation intervention. 8
8) Using internet and mobile phone technology to deliver an automated physical activity program: randomized controlled trial. 9
9) Mobile phone short message service messaging for behavior modification in a 10
community-based weight control program in Korea 10
10) Text-Message Reminders to Improve Sunscreen Use 10
11) Short text messages (SMS) as a reminder system for making working women from Delhi Breast Aware. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
12) Development and effects of a health promotion program utilizing the mail function of mobile phones ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12
13) Impact of a cell phone intervention on mediating mechanisms of smoking cessation in individuals living with HIV/AIDS 13
14) Do u smoke after txt? Results of a randomised trial of smoking cessation using mobile phone text messaging 13
15) The impact of short message service text messages sent as appointment reminders to patients' cell phones at outpatient clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. 14
Feasibility Studies: 15
16) Mobile phone text messaging to promote healthy behaviors and weight loss maintenance: a feasibility study. 15
Usability Studies: 17
19) Access, use and perceptions regarding Internet, cell phones and PDAs as a means for health promotion for people living with HIV in Peru. 17
20) Mobile phone text messaging for pharmaceutical care in a hospital in China 18
21) A customizable mobile tool for supporting health behavior interventions. 18
22) The use of cell phone reminder calls for assisting HIV-infected adolescents and young adults to adhere to highly active antiretroviral therapy: a pilot study. 19
23) Mobile Phone text messaging in the management of diabetes 20
24) Understanding the potential role of mobile phone-based monitoring on asthma self-management: qualitative study 20
25) Sweet Talk 21
Studies in Development: 22
26) The HAART cell phone adherence trial (WelTel Kenya1): a randomized controlled trial protocol 22
Effectiveness Studies:
1) Supportive intervention using a mobile phone in behavior modification.
1. Organization: N/A
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Japan
4. Type of device: mobile phone
5. Format: SMS, cellular email
6. Type of Program/Intervention: patients with mood disorder, behavior disorder or a physical symptom (depression, dizziness, smoking, bronchial asthma)
7. Information direction: 2-way real-time advice function and a real-time reporting function
8. Message initiator: Push
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of a mobile EMA system with real-time advice and reporting function as supportive intervention to eliminate weaknesses of face-to-face treatments.
10. Contact info:
11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19404343
12. Abstract: The authors previously developed a mobile ecological momentary assessment (EMA) system as a real-time data collection device using a mobile phone. In this study, a real-time advice function and real-time reporting function were added to the previous system as a supportive intervention. The improved system was found to work effectively and was applied to several clinical cases, including patients with depressive disorder, dizziness, smoking habit, and bronchial asthma. The average patient compliance rate was high (89%) without the real-time advice and higher (93%) with the advice. The trends in clinical data for patients using a mobile EMA with/without the new function were analyzed for up to several months. In the case of dizziness, an improving trend in its clinical data was observed after applying the real-time advice, and in the case of depressive disorder, a stabilizing trend was observed. The mobile EMA system with the real-time advice function could be useful as a supportive intervention in behavior modification and for motivating patients in self-management of their disease.
2) Efficacy of a cell phone-based exercise program for COPD.
1. Organization: N/A
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Taiwan
4. Type of device: mobile phone
5. Format: cellular web application
6. Type of Program/Intervention: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Information direction: 1 way
8. Message initiator: Push
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of a home-based exercise training program supervised via cell phone.
10. Contact info:
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18508824
12. Abstract: The application of a supervised endurance exercise training program in a home setting offering convenience and prolonged effects is a challenge. In total, 48 patients were initially assessed by the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), spirometry and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) quality-of-life questionnaire, and then every 4 weeks for 3 months thereafter and again after 1 yr. During the first 3 months, 24 patients in the cell phone group were asked to perform daily endurance walking at 80% of their maximal capacity by following the tempo of music from a program installed on a cell phone. The level of endurance walking at home was readjusted monthly according to the result of ISWT. In the control group, 24 patients received the same protocol and were verbally asked to take daily walking exercise at home. Patients in the cell phone group significantly improved their ISWT distance and duration of endurance walking after 8 weeks. The improvements in ISWT distance, inspiratory capacity and SF-12 scoring at 12 weeks persisted until the end of the study, with less acute exacerbations and hospitalizations. In the present pilot study, the cell phone-based system provides an efficient, home endurance exercise training program with good compliance and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
3) Impact of a nurse short message service intervention for patients with diabetes.
1. Organization: N/A
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: South Korea
4. Type of device: mobile phone and the internet
5. Format: SMS, internet application
6. Type of Program/Intervention: Diabetes control
7. Information direction: 2 way
8. Message initiator: Pull
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of SMS intervention for improved HbAiC l level and adherence to diabetic medication taking, physical exercise, and foot care
10.Contact info: hees@catholie. ae.
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16816608
12. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a nurse short message service by cellular phone and the Internet on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and adherence to diabetes control recommendations. The patients with diabetes were asked to input their blood glucose levels every day by cellular phone or the Internet. Optimal recommendations were sent weekly to each patient by short message service. After 12 weeks, the patients had a mean decrease of 1.1% in HbA1c level and an increase in diabetic medication taking, 30 minutes of physical exercise, and foot care adherence.
4) Effectiveness of an intervention to provide information to patients with hypertension as short text messages and reminders sent to their mobile phone (HTA-Alert)
1. Organization: N/A
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Spain
4. Type of device: mobile phone
5. Format: SMS
6. Type of Program/Intervention: Hypertension
7. Information direction: 2 way
8. Message initiator: Push
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of text messaging in fostering compliance with therapy for hypertension.
10.Contact info: N/A
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15546536
12. Abstract: To analyze the effect of an intervention to provide information with mobile phone text messages to patients with hypertension on compliance with therapy for hypertension. DESIGN: Comparative, controlled, multicenter, randomized cluster study. SETTING: 26 primary care health centers in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 26 researchers were randomized to a control group or an intervention group (52 patients each, for a total of 104 patients). All patients were receiving monotherapy for uncontrolled hypertension. INTERVENTION: Patients in the control group received their physician's usual interventions. Patients in the intervention group received messages and reminders sent to their mobile phones 2 days per week during 4 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tablets were counted and blood pressure was measured at the start of the study and 1, 3, and 6 months later. The percentage of compliers, mean percentage of compliance and degree of control of hypertension were compared. The reduction in absolute and relative risk was calculated, as was the number of individuals needed to treat to avoid noncompliance. RESULTS: The results were evaluated for a total of 67 individuals (34 in the intervention group and 33 in the control group). The rate of compliance was 85.1% (CI, 74.9%-95.3%) overall, 85.7% (CI, 70.5%-100.9%) in the control group and 84.4% in the intervention group (CI, 70.7%-95.3%) (P=NS). Mean percentage compliance was 90.2%+/-16.3% overall, 88.1%+/-20.8% in the control group and 91.9%+/-11.6% in the intervention group (P=NS). The percentage of patients whose hypertension was controlled at the end of the study was 51.5% (CI, 34.4%-68.6%) in the control group and 64.7% (CI, 48.6%-80.8%) in the intervention group (P=NS). CONCLUSIONS: The telephone messaging intervention with alerts and reminders sent to mobile phones did not improve compliance with therapy in patients with hypertension.
5) Can wireless text messaging improve adherence to preventive activities? Results of a randomized controlled trial
1. Organization: School of Business, Athabasca University
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Canada
4. Type of device: mobile phone
5. Format: SMS
6. Type of Program/Intervention: Vitamin C
7. Information direction: 2 way
8. Message initiator: Pull
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of text messaging on adherence to Vitamin C. 10.Contact info:
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18778967
12. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of cell phone wireless text messaging for improving adherence to a healthy behavior. DESIGN: A randomized, unblinded, controlled trial was conducted with 102 subjects, 18 years or older, each having a cell phone and willing to take 1 vitamin C pill per day for 1 month for preventive reasons. Intervention group participants received text-messaging reminders and were asked to acknowledge receiving their messages after taking the vitamins, whereas control group subjects had no text messaging activity. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported adherence and the number of participant text messages acknowledging vitamins taken. RESULTS: Both groups reported an increased adherence after the trial: by 246% for the intervention group and by 131% for the control group. There was a non-significant difference between the two groups at endpoint: an average difference of 0.8 between the number of pills missed in the last week of the trial (2.5 out of 7 in the intervention and 3.3 out of 7 in the control group) with a power of 0.54. The study revealed a significant correlation (coefficient=-0.352, sig.=0.01) between the average number of text messaging acknowledgements sent by the intervention group participants and the number of pills they reported missed during the last week of the trial. CONCLUSION: This was a small randomized controlled trial with inconclusive but encouraging results. It suggests a new approach in addressing insufficient adherence in outpatient conditions and shows that the use of information technology tools for compliance warrants further research.
6) Use of mobile telephone short message service (SMS) as a reminder: the effect on patient attendance
1. Organization: Dept Pediatric Dentistry, Edinburgh Dental Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Scotland, UK
4. Type of device: mobile phone
5. Format: SMS
6. Type of Program/Intervention: Reminder for outpatient pediatric dental appointments.
7. Information direction: 1way
8. Message initiator: Push
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of outpatient text message appointment reminders.
10.Contact info: Foley J,
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19254521
12. Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the operational and financial efficacy of sending short message service (SMS) mobile telephone text message to patients with outpatient clinic appointments. STUDY DESIGN: Patients scheduled to attend an outpatient appointment at the Dept. Pediatric Dentistry, Edinburgh Dental Institute, Scotland, during October 2007 and who had mobile telephone contact details were sent a reminder SMS text 24hr prior to their appointment. An historical control group were selected from October 2006. RESULTS: Data were available for 276 (F: 146; M: 130) and 433 (F: 228; M: 205) patient attendances during 2006 and 2007 respectively. Overall, 10.4% and 23.9% of the SMS and historical group failed to attend (FTA) respectively and the difference was statistically significant (Chi Square = 6.95, p = 0.008, 1 d.f). There was a reduction in the FTA rate for the specialist pediatric staff dentists from 29.2% to 24.4% for 2006 and 2007 respectively. The cost of sending text messages was 28.15 pound (approx. 30 euro) for October 2007. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SMS text messages as a reminder may reduce the failure to attend rate for outpatient pediatric dental appointments.
7) Happy ending: a randomized controlled trial of a digital multi-media smoking cessation intervention.
1. Organization: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
2. Project name: N/A
3. Country/countries: Norway
4. Type of device: mobile phone/ Internet
5. Format: SMS
6. Type of Program/Intervention: Smoking Cessation
7. Information direction: 1 way
8. Message initiator: Push
9. Type of document: Study of effectiveness of an internet and mobile phone smoking cessation intervention.
10.Contact info: Brendryen H, Kraft P.
11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18269367
12. Abstract: AIMS: To assess the long-term efficacy of a fully automated digital multi-media smoking cessation intervention. DESIGN: Two-arm randomized control trial (RCT). Setting World Wide Web (WWW) study based in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (n = 396) were recruited via internet advertisements and assigned randomly to conditions. Inclusion criteria were willingness to quit smoking and being aged 18 years or older. INTERVENTION: The treatment group received the internet- and cell-phone-based Happy Ending intervention. The intervention program lasted 54 weeks and consisted of more than 400 contacts by e-mail, web-pages, interactive voice response (IVR) and short message service (SMS) technology. The control group received a self-help booklet. Additionally, both groups were offered free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). MEASUREMENTS: Abstinence was defined as 'not even a puff of smoke, for the last 7 days', and assessed by means of internet surveys or telephone interviews. The main outcome was repeated point abstinence at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following cessation. FINDINGS: Participants in the treatment group reported clinically and statistically significantly higher repeated point abstinence rates than control participants [22.3% versus 13.1%; odds ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-3.26, P = 0.02; intent-to-treat). Improved adherence to NRT and a higher level of post-cessation self-efficacy were observed in the treatment group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: As the first RCT documenting the long-term treatment effects of such an intervention, this study adds to the promise of digital media in supporting behavior change.