Do text messages about health and development in young children affect caregiver behaviour and child outcomes? A systematic review

Introduction: Inadequate caregiving conditions interfere with successful health and development outcomes. Access to appropriate information can result in improved health and development outcomes in children. Health promotion text messaging, a primary mHealth strategy, has been implemented in various countries to reach communities where the majority of the population may be living in poverty and lacks access to information and health services. This systematic review investigated what effect the provision of information regarding health and development in young children, using text messages, has on caregiver behaviour and child outcomes. Method: The review was conducted according to the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) guidelines. Studies were retrieved from Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane library using primary search phrases. The search was not limited to a specific period. Thematic analysis was used to organise and synthesise the information extracted from selected studies into main and sub-themes. Results: In total, 19 studies were identified, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) ( n = 13, 68.42%), observational studies ( n = 3, 15.79%) and non-RCTs ( n = 3, 15.79%). Message content included educational information regarding health and development (89.47%), reminders (36.84%) and caregiver support (52.63%). The majority of studies ( n = 17; 89.47%) found statistically significant positive effects of text message intervention on caregiver behaviour. Text messages also affected child outcomes, with 15.79% ( n = 3) of studies reporting a positive effect. Conclusion: Text messaging is an effective tool to influence caregiver behaviour and child outcomes in health. There is however limited evidence regarding text message intervention effectiveness on child development, both in quality and in quantity. More research, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is necessary.

Download Full-text

The Effectiveness Of Using Text Messages Reminder On Adherence With Tuberculosis Patients: A Systematic Review

STRADA JURNAL ILMIAH KESEHATAN ◽

10.30994/sjik.v9i2.381 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 751-760

Author(s):

Ardila Lailatul Barik ◽

Retno Indarwati ◽

Sulistiawati Sulistiawati

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Digital Technology ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Randomized Control Trials ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Tuberculosis Patients ◽

Randomized Control ◽

Text Message Reminder

Non-adherence is a factor that inhibits the completion of TB cases globally. Some studies suggest that the use of digital technology in the form of text message reminders can reduce the risk of non-adherence. The purpose of writing this article is to analyze the effectiveness of text message reminders on adherence to tuberculosis (TB) patients. The method in preparing this Systematic review is based on literature studies from various electronic databases, including Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Sage by conducting a comprehensive review using the PRISMA guidelines. The keywords used are "Text Messaging" AND "medication adherence" AND "tuberculosis". There are 11 original articles with 9 articles using the Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) research method and 2 articles using the Quasy-experimental method that fits the inclusion criteria. The use of text message reminder interventions is effective and can be used as an optional method of increasing adherence to TB patients.

Download Full-text

Testing the feasibility and acceptability of a religiously-tailored text messaging intervention to reduce smoking among Somali Muslim men during Ramadan

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa260 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rebekah Pratt ◽

Olamide Ojo-Fati ◽

Diana DuBois ◽

Kolawole Okuyemi ◽

Amanda L Graham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Text Messaging ◽

Intervention Strategy ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Smoking Reduction ◽

Muslim Men ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Text Message Intervention ◽

Text Messaging Intervention

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of smoking among Somali Muslim male immigrants residing in Minnesota is estimated at 44%, however smoking reduction is common during the month of Ramadan. This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of a religiously-tailored text message intervention delivered during Ramadan to encourage smoking reduction among Somali Muslim men who smoke. Methods 50 Somali men were recruited. Participants received two text messages per day starting one week prior to and throughout the month of Ramadan. Approximately half were religiously-tailored and half were about the risks of smoking and benefits of quitting. Smoking behavior was assessed at baseline, and at weeks 4 (end of Ramadan), 8, and 16. Outcomes included feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the text message intervention on smoking reduction and bio-verified abstinence. Results The average age was 41 years. Average time to first cigarette was 1.8 hours at baseline, and 46% of participants smoked menthol cigarettes. Eighteen of 50 participants selected English and 32 selected Somali text messages. Subjects significantly reduced self-reported cigarettes per day (CPD) from 12.4 CPD at baseline to 5.8 CPD at Week 16 (p<0.001). Seven subjects reported quitting at week 16, five completed CO testing, confirming self-reported abstinence. The majority of participants found the cultural and religious references encouraging at the end of the week 16 survey. Conclusions Religiously-tailored text messages to decrease smoking are feasible and acceptable to Somali Muslim men who smoke during Ramadan. This intervention for addressing smoking disparities is worthy of further study. Implications Recruitment of Somali Muslim men who smoke is feasible and supports the idea that further studies targeting smoking during Ramadan are practical. Ramadan presents a window of opportunity upon which to build smoking cessation interventions for smokers who identify as Muslim. These preliminary findings suggest that text messaging is a feasible and acceptable intervention strategy, and that religious tailoring was well received. Such an approach may offer potential for addressing smoking disparities among Somali Muslim male smokers.

Download Full-text

Text messages to reduce depressive symptoms: Do they work and what makes them effective? A systematic review

Health Education Journal ◽

10.1177/0017896920959368 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 001789692095936

Author(s):

Katherine L Cox ◽

Sabine M Allida ◽

Maree L Hackett

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Text Message ◽

Well Being ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Text Messages ◽

World Health

Objective: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to quantify the effects of text messaging interventions to reduce depressive symptoms and identify variables that might influence the effectiveness of the intervention. Design: Electronic databases including EMBASE, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SCOPUS, as well as Clinicaltrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) were searched for randomised controlled trials that sent one or more text messages with health-related content to adults who had been identified by a healthcare provider. Results: Seven trials (nine comparisons), with 1,918 participants, were included in the review, and the pooled analysis revealed a borderline statistically significant reduction in depressive symptom scores between the text messaging intervention and control groups (standardised mean difference [SMD], −0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.54 to 0.00; p = .00) favouring intervention at the end. Statistically significant reductions were shown in important subgroups, for example, where the primary aim of the messages was to reduce depressive symptoms; in those using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) or 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) questionnaires; where text message content was targeted at mental well-being, mood improvement and cognitive behavioural therapy information; and when the message frequency was ⩾2 times per week. Conclusion: Text messaging has potential to reduce depressive symptoms. The results of this review should be interpreted with caution, however, due to the methodological limitations of included trials. More research is required before recommendations can be made about the routine use of text messaging for the management of depressive symptoms.

Download Full-text

Text Message Responsivity in a 2-Way Short Message Service Pilot Intervention With Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Cancer (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12547 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandra M Psihogios ◽

Yimei Li ◽

Eliana Butler ◽

Jessica Hamilton ◽

Lauren C Daniel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Adult Survivors ◽

Text Messages ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Short Message ◽

Message Service ◽

Young Adult Survivors ◽

Pilot Intervention ◽

Text Message Intervention

OBJECTIVE Within a 2-way text messaging study in AYAs who recently completed treatment for cancer, we sought to evaluate text message responsivity across different types of text messages. METHODS AYAs who recently completed treatment for cancer (n=26; mean age=16 years; 62% female, 16/26 participants) received 2-way text messages about survivorship health topics over a 16-week period. Using participants’ text message log data, we coded responsivity to text messages and evaluated trends in responsivity to unprompted text messages and prompted text messages of varying content (eg, medication reminders, appointment reminders, and texts about personal experiences as a cancer survivor). RESULTS Across prompted and unprompted text messages, responsivity rapidly decreased (P ≤.001 and =.01, respectively) and plateaued by the third week of the intervention. However, participants were more responsive to prompted text messages (mean responsivity=46% by week 16) than unprompted messages (mean responsivity=10% by week 16). They also demonstrated stable responsivity to certain prompted content: medication reminders, appointment reminders, goal motivation, goal progress, and patient experience texts. CONCLUSIONS Our methodology of evaluating text message responsivity revealed important patterns of engagement in a 2-way text message intervention for AYA cancer survivors.

Download Full-text

Text Messaging as a Mental Health Treatment Intervention: A Corpus-Based Study

10.31234/osf.io/gt73p ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Megan Partch ◽

Cass Dykeman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Low Cost ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Text Message ◽

Treatment Session ◽

Text Messages ◽

Health Treatment ◽

Emotional Tone

Mental health treatment providers seek high-impact and low-cost means of engaging clients in care. As such, text messaging is becoming more frequently utilized as a means of communication between provider and client. Research demonstrates that text message interventions increase treatment session attendance, decrease symptomology, and improve overall functioning. However, research is lacking related to the linguistic make up of provider communications. Text messages were collected from previously published articles related to the treatment of mental health disorders. A corpus of 39 mental health treatment text message interventions was composed totaling 286 words. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software, messages were analyzed for prevalence of terminology thought to enhance client engagement. Clout, demonstrating the writer’s confidence and expertise, and positive Emotional Tone were found to be at a high level within the corpus. Results demonstrated statistical significance for five linguistic variables. When compared with national blog norms derived from Twitter, Clout, Emotional Tone, and use of Biological terminology were found to be at higher rates than expected. Authenticity and Informal terminology were found at significantly lesser rates.

Download Full-text

Nudge me: tailoring text messages for prescription adherence through N-of-1 interviews

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibab056 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joy Waughtal ◽

Phat Luong ◽

Lisa Sandy ◽

Catia Chavez ◽

P Michael Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Conditions ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽

Medication Refill ◽

Interactive Text ◽

Prompt Action ◽

Negative Messages

Abstract Almost 50% of patients with cardiovascular diseases face challenges in taking medications and increased morbidity and mortality. Text messaging may impact medication refill behavior and can be delivered at scale to patients by texting mobile phones. To obtain feedback from persons with chronic conditions on the design of interactive text messages and determine language of message for making messages that can motivate patients to refill medications on time. We purposively sampled 35 English and Spanish speaking patients with at least one chronic condition from three large healthcare delivery systems to participate in N-of-1 video-based synchronous interviews. Research assistants shared ideas for theory-informed text messages with content intended to persuade patients to refill their medication. We transcribed recorded interviews and conducted a content analysis to identify strategies to employ generating a dynamic interactive text message library intended to increase medication refill. Those interviewed were of diverse age and race/ethnicity and typical of persons with multiple chronic conditions. Several participants emphasized that personally tailored and positively framed messages would be more persuasive than generic and/or negative messages. Some patients appreciated humor and messages that could evoke a sense of social support from their providers and rejected the use of emojis. Messages to remind patients to refill medications may facilitate improvements in adherence, which in turn can improve chronic care. Designing messages that are persuasive and can prompt action is feasible and should be considered given the ease with which such messages can be delivered automatically at scale.

Download Full-text

A Newsletter/Text Message Intervention Promoting Beverage-Related Parenting Practices: Pilot Test Results

Health Promotion Practice ◽

10.1177/1524839918779381 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 897-904 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arwa Zahid ◽

Marla Reicks

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Potential Health ◽

Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽

Sweetened Beverages ◽

Reduce Sugar ◽

Text Message Intervention ◽

Home Availability

Positive beverage parenting practices may reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption by children and prevent potential health problems. An online newsletter/text message intervention was conducted with parents of children 6 to 12 years to improve beverage parenting practices. Newsletters and text messages were sent weekly over a 4-week period providing gain-framed messages encouraging parenting practices including role modeling and controlling home beverage availability. Pre–post surveys included measures of home availability of beverages and parent beverage intake as an indication of parenting practices. Parents were primarily White, well-educated, and female. About one third lived in rural areas. Results from 100 parents with pre–post data from baseline to 4 weeks showed decreased reported home availability of regular soda pop (p = .008), decreased parent intake of sweetened beverages (p = .004), and decreased parent-reported child intake of regular soft drinks (p = .001), and sweetened juice drink beverages (p < .0001). Most parents (82%) reported reading all three newsletters and indicated that the information provided was relevant (93%). A brief newsletter/text message intervention may be a positive and convenient approach to promote positive beverage parenting practices.

Download Full-text

Recovery Following Peer and Text Messaging Support after Discharge from Acute Psychiatric Care: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27137 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Reham Shalaby ◽

Marianne Hrabok ◽

Pamela Spurvey ◽

Rabab M. Abou El-Magd ◽

Michelle Knox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peer Support ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Psychiatric Care ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Treatment As Usual ◽

Usual Condition ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Acute Psychiatric Care

BACKGROUND Peer support (PS) is emotional, social, and practical help that is provided by non-professionals to assist others in sustaining health behaviours. PS is valued in recovery-oriented models of mental health and is becoming implemented increasingly at the organizational level. Text messaging is a relatively low cost, high impact, and easily scalable program that uses existing technology, is devoid of geographic barriers, and is easily accessible to end users. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the effect of an innovative peer support system plus supportive text messaging program on the recovery of discharged patients from acute psychiatric care. METHODS This is a prospective, rater-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial, including 180 patients discharged from acute psychiatric care. Patients were randomized to one of four conditions: treatment as usual (follow-up care), daily supportive text messages, peer-support only, or peer-support plus daily supportive text messages. A standardized self-report measure of recovery (Recovery Assessment Scale; RAS) was completed at baseline, six weeks, three months, and six months. Descriptive analysis, One-Way ANOVA, and repeated measures MANCOVA were deployed to examine the changes in RAS among the study groups and over the follow-up time points. RESULTS Sixty-five patients completed assessments at each time-point. For the overall sample, higher scores were found for the peer-support plus text message condition compared to the text message only and treatment as usual condition on several scales (i.e., Willingness to ask for help and Personal Confidence and Hope) and total score on the RAS. CONCLUSIONS Peer support plus supportive text messaging results in improved recovery compared to other interventions. It is advisable to incorporate the two interventions as a part of routine practice for patients with psychiatric disorders upon their hospital discharge. CLINICALTRIAL The study received ethical approval from the Health Ethics Research Board of the University of Alberta (Ref # Pro00078427) and operational approval from the Alberta Health Services regional health authority. All patients provided written informed consent. The study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Trial registration number NCT03404882).

Download Full-text

Children's Text Messaging and Traditional Literacy

Handbook of Research on New Media Literacy at the K-12 Level ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-120-9.ch032 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 492-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beverly Plester ◽

Clare Wood ◽

Samantha Bowyer

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Reading Ability ◽

School Achievement ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Standard English ◽

Verbal Reasoning ◽

Mobile Phone Use ◽

Lack Of Knowledge

The authors present three investigations into pre-teen children’s text message language and measures of their standard literacy abilities. The children translated sentences, from standard English into text, and from text into standard English , and wrote text messages appropriate to a set of scenarios. They categorised text abbreviations used and calculated the proportion of abbreviations to total words. The children completed a questionnaire about their mobile phone use. Text messaging facility was positively associated with verbal reasoning, vocabulary, school achievement in English, and reading ability across the three studies. Texting provides opportunity for children to communicate in writing without the constraints of standard English, and we propose that the playful variants on words that they use in texting, and their ability to encode spoken slang graphically, show not a lack of knowledge of English, but a light hearted use of phonological and alphabetic decoding principles that also underpin standard English.

Download Full-text