scholarly journals Text messaging to engage friends/family in diabetes self-management support: acceptability and potential to address disparities

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1099-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay S Mayberry ◽  
Erin M Bergner ◽  
Kryseana J Harper ◽  
Simone Laing ◽  
Cynthia A Berg

Abstract Objective Explore acceptability of engaging family/friends in patients’ type 2 diabetes (T2D) self-management using text messaging. Materials and Methods Participants (N = 123) recruited from primary care clinics for a larger trial evaluating mobile phone support for T2D completed self-report measures and a hemoglobin A1c test and then had the option to invite an adult support person to receive text messages. We examined characteristics and reasons of participants who did/did not invite a support person, responses to the invitation, and feedback from patients and support persons. Results Participants were 55.9 ± 10.1 years old, 55% female, 53% minority, and 54% disadvantaged (low income, less than high school degree/GED, uninsured, and/or homeless). Participants who invited a support person (48%) were slightly younger, more likely to be partnered, and reported more depressive symptoms and more emergency department visits in the year prior to study enrollment as compared to participants who did not (all p <.05). Participants’ reasons for inviting a support person included needing help and seeing benefits of engaging others, while reasons for not inviting a support person included concerns about being a “burden” and support person’s ability or desire to text. Support persons reported the texts increased awareness, created dialogue, and improved their own health behaviors. Discussion Patients inviting a support person had higher need and thus may stand to benefit most. Most support persons were open to engagement via text messages. Conclusion Across race and socioeconomic status, text messaging may engage support persons to increase health-related support—particularly for patients with higher levels of need. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02409329.

JMIR Diabetes ◽  
10.2196/17794 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. e17794
Author(s):  
Lynn Yee ◽  
Shaneah Taylor ◽  
Maria Young ◽  
Makayla Williams ◽  
Charlotte Niznik ◽  
...  

Background Given the growing burden of diabetes in underserved communities and the complexity of diabetes self-management during pregnancy, the development of interventions to support low-income pregnant women with diabetes is urgently needed. Objective This study aims to develop and pilot test a theory-driven curriculum of SMS text messaging for diabetes support and education during pregnancy. Methods This was a prospective pilot investigation of a novel SMS text messaging intervention offered to pregnant women with pregestational or gestational diabetes mellitus and publicly funded prenatal care. Prior work yielded a conceptual model of diabetes self-management barriers and support factors in this population, which was used to guide curriculum development along with health behavior theories. Participants received three supportive or educational one-way text messages per week during pregnancy. In-depth semistructured interviews were performed at study exit to solicit feedback on the program. Narrative data were analyzed using the constant comparative technique to identify themes and subthemes. Results Participants (N=31 enrolled and n=26 completed both interviews) consistently reported that SMS text messaging provided enhanced motivation for diabetes self-care, reduced diabetes-related social isolation, increased perceived diabetes-associated knowledge, enhanced comfort with the health care team, and reduced logistical burdens of diabetes during pregnancy. Participants requested enhanced interactive and customizable features in future intervention iterations. Conclusions Pregnant women with diabetes who were enrolled in this pilot study of an SMS text messaging curriculum for diabetes support described enhanced motivation, knowledge, and comfort with diabetes self-care activities as a result of the health education intervention. The next steps include enriching the interactive features of the intervention and investigating the effect of the intervention on perinatal outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Yee ◽  
Shaneah Taylor ◽  
Maria Young ◽  
Makayla Williams ◽  
Charlotte Niznik ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Given the growing burden of diabetes in underserved communities and the complexity of diabetes self-management during pregnancy, the development of interventions to support low-income pregnant women with diabetes is urgently needed. OBJECTIVE This study aims to develop and pilot test a theory-driven curriculum of SMS text messaging for diabetes support and education during pregnancy. METHODS This was a prospective pilot investigation of a novel SMS text messaging intervention offered to pregnant women with pregestational or gestational diabetes mellitus and publicly funded prenatal care. Prior work yielded a conceptual model of diabetes self-management barriers and support factors in this population, which was used to guide curriculum development along with health behavior theories. Participants received three supportive or educational one-way text messages per week during pregnancy. In-depth semistructured interviews were performed at study exit to solicit feedback on the program. Narrative data were analyzed using the constant comparative technique to identify themes and subthemes. RESULTS Participants (N=31 enrolled and n=26 completed both interviews) consistently reported that SMS text messaging provided enhanced motivation for diabetes self-care, reduced diabetes-related social isolation, increased perceived diabetes-associated knowledge, enhanced comfort with the health care team, and reduced logistical burdens of diabetes during pregnancy. Participants requested enhanced interactive and customizable features in future intervention iterations. CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women with diabetes who were enrolled in this pilot study of an SMS text messaging curriculum for diabetes support described enhanced motivation, knowledge, and comfort with diabetes self-care activities as a result of the health education intervention. The next steps include enriching the interactive features of the intervention and investigating the effect of the intervention on perinatal outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefien Van Olmen ◽  
Maurits Van Pelt ◽  
Billy Malombo ◽  
Grace M Ku ◽  
Dominique Kanda ◽  
...  

Introduction Evidence about mobile health (mHealth) approaches to manage diabetes shows modest effects on outcomes, but little is known about implementation variability. This is a process evaluation of an mHealth intervention to improve diabetes self-management through Short Message Service (SMS) provision in three diabetes care programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cambodia and the Philippines. Methods The intervention involved Diabetes Self-Management Support via text messages. The content and process of the intervention is based upon the core principles of diabetes self-management and behaviour theory. In each country, messages were sent by project managers to 240 participants in each country, who were randomly assigned to the intervention group. Contracts were negotiated with national phone providers and open access software was used to send the messages. Participants received a mobile phone and SIM card. We analysed data about the implementation process over a one year period. Results The mean monthly number of messages delivered to recipients’ phones was 67.7% of the planned number in DRC, 92.3% in Cambodia and 83.9% in the Philippines. A telephone check revealed problems with one-third of the phones, including breakage, loss and cancelled subscriptions. The number of people reached at least once was 177 (70.0%) in DRC; 147 (60.7%) in Cambodia; five in the Philippines (2.0%). Those reached each time was 144 in DRC (56.9%), 28 (9.9%) in Cambodia, none in the Philippines. People used their phone more frequently than before the intervention. Discussion Implementation of the intervention meets constraints at every step in the process. Barriers relate to the technology, the context and the participants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1134-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Ang

Objective: Few studies have tested the purported causal mechanisms between social participation and health, especially among those in poor health. This study aimed to determine whether self-management of chronic disease operates as a pathway through which social participation affects health-related quality of life. Method: I utilized causal mediation analysis among 600 low-income older Singaporeans living with chronic conditions, to test whether self-management mediates the association between social participation and health-related quality of life. Results: Results show that self-management fully mediated the positive effect of informal social participation on health-related quality of life. Formal social participation was found to have a negative direct effect on health-related quality of life. Discussion: These findings reiterate the primacy of family and friends for older adults, but highlight that a better understanding of formal engagement with the low-income population is still needed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Chan ◽  
Margaret De Melo ◽  
Jacqui Gingras ◽  
Enza Gucciardi

Objective. To explore how food insecurity affects individuals’ ability to manage their diabetes, as narrated by participants living in a large, culturally diverse urban centre. Design. Qualitative study comprising of in-depth interviews, using a semistructured interview guide. Setting. Participants were recruited from the local community, three community health centres, and a community-based diabetes education centre servicing a low-income population in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Participants. Twenty-one English-speaking adults with a diagnosis of diabetes and having experienced food insecurity in the past year (based on three screening questions). Method. Using six phases of analysis, we used qualitative, deductive thematic analysis to transcribe, code, and analyze participant interviews. Main Findings. Three themes emerged from our analysis of participants’ experiences of living with food insecurity and diabetes: (1) barriers to accessing and preparing food, (2) social isolation, and (3) enhancing agency and resilience. Conclusion. Food insecurity appears to negatively impact diabetes self-management. Healthcare professionals need to be cognizant of resources, skills, and supports appropriate for people with diabetes affected by food insecurity. Study findings suggest foci for enhancing diabetes self-management support.


Author(s):  
Nishal Anthony ◽  
Jennifer Molokwu ◽  
Ogechika Alozie ◽  
Diego Magallanes

Introduction: Attendance to clinic appointments and compliance with treatment plans are essential components of HIV/AIDS care. Compliance is especially important in young and minority individuals living with HIV/AIDS. We assessed the effectiveness of a text-based reminder system compared with usual care in improving the attendance to clinic and social work appointments at a Ryan White-funded clinic based in an academic institution. Methods: Convenience sample looking at 2 periods, 6 months before initiation of text messages and 6 months after initiation of text messages. Results: Following a 6-month postintervention period, we found a statistically significant reduction in our no-show rates (individuals failing to keep scheduled appointments) of 24.8% versus 17.7%, P value .05. Conclusion: Using an inexpensive online text messaging system, we were able to significantly decrease no-show rates in a primarily younger, low-income, and uninsured population.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document