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

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

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/12547 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. e12547 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Alexandra M Psihogios ◽

Yimei Li ◽

Eliana Butler ◽

Jessica Hamilton ◽

Lauren C Daniel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adult ◽

Short Message Service ◽

Text Message ◽

Adult Survivors ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Short Message ◽

Message Service ◽

Young Adult Survivors ◽

Pilot Intervention

Download Full-text

An Internet of Things (IoT) Project Based on a Text Messaging (SMS) Gateway Applied to a Pipeline SCADA System

Volume 3: Operations, Monitoring, and Maintenance; Materials and Joining ◽

10.1115/ipc2018-78044 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Antonio D. Bezerra ◽

Mateus da C. S. Cabral ◽

Edson R. Santiago

Keyword(s):

Internet Of Things ◽

Mobile Communications ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Short Message ◽

Short Text ◽

Log Files ◽

Message Service ◽

System Breakdown

The present work arose from problems occurred during the revamp of a pipeline SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system at the beginning of 2012, when occurred some unexpected system crashes that could interrupt the operation of the second major Brazilian pipeline maritime terminal. Before a system breakdown, we observed some signs, like fail-overs in the event log files. If the development and maintenance crews were aware of these events not only the problem causes could be better understood, but also the imminent crash could have been avoided. A faster and autonomous way for the system communicates its problems was necessary. ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) — a part of an autonomous communication system, which reports aircraft condition for a system on the ground, through satellite links and short messages — inspired us to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) system, using text messages (SMS, short message service) of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Autonomous and short text messages are the keywords that drove our work, and the solution came through a text message gateway — the solution to get information in advance. This presentation will discuss the idea, hardware and software components, message format, applications and future perspectives.

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

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

Health Education Journal ◽

10.1177/0017896920965992 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 001789692096599

Author(s):

Brittany Paige Richardson ◽

Jeannie van der Linde ◽

Bhavani Pillay ◽

De Wet Swanepoel

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Young Children ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Child Outcomes ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Health And Development ◽

Development Outcomes ◽

Text Message Intervention

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

Clients’ preferred methods of obtaining sexually transmissable infection or HIV results from Sydney Sexual Health Centre

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh12062 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 91 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lynne Martin ◽

Vickie Knight ◽

Phillip J. Read ◽

Anna McNulty

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Health Centre ◽

Text Messages ◽

Phone Call ◽

Short Message ◽

Test Results ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Message Service

Given the documented benefits of using text messaging (short message service; SMS), the internet and email to deliver sexually transmissible infection (STI) test results, including high acceptability among clients, Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) aimed to identify which methods our clients preferred for receiving their results, using a cross-sectional survey. There was a preference for SMS (32%) for negative STI results, and for SMS (27%), phone call (27%) and in-person (26%) for negative HIV results. An in-person preference was shown for receiving positive STI results (40%) and positive HIV results (56%, P < 0.001). While many clients would prefer to receive STI test results via text messages or phone call, many also still prefer a return visit, with this preference is dependent on the type and nature of the results. Our study suggests that, ideally, several options for obtaining results should be available.

Download Full-text

Text message reminders as an adjunct to a substance use intervention for adolescents and young adults: Pilot feasibility and acceptability findings

Digital Health ◽

10.1177/2055207620965052 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205520762096505

Author(s):

Frank J Schwebel ◽

Mary E Larimer

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Young Adults ◽

Drug Use ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Message Content ◽

Acceptable Method ◽

Pilot Intervention

Objective Text messaging has been proposed as a method for increasing the reach of interventions for harmful alcohol and other drug use. This paper describes the design of an automated text messaging adjunct to a substance use intervention intended to support adolescents and young adults attempting to change their alcohol and other drug use behavior. Feasibility and acceptability testing was conducted as part of this pilot study. Method Five focus groups were conducted to refine text message content and finalize pilot intervention design. Automated, daily, substance use-related reminder text messages were sent to pilot intervention participants ( n = 39), who were recruited from outpatient treatment. Results Of those who were invited, 63% enrolled in the study and 89.7% remained enrolled in the study as measured by completing at least one assessment after baseline. Participants reported a positive experience with the messages, particularly supportive/empowering messages and commitment reminder messages. Conclusions These findings suggest that text messaging is a feasible and acceptable method for delivery of substance use-related reminder content as an adjunct to substance use intervention.

Download Full-text

Combining Real-Time Ratings With Qualitative Interviews to Develop a Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Program for Primary Care Patients (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11498 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Gina Kruse ◽

Elyse R Park ◽

Naysha N Shahid ◽

Lorien Abroms ◽

Jessica E Haberer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Real Time ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Text Message ◽

Intervention Development ◽

Text Messages ◽

Behavioral Skills ◽

Message Service ◽

Primary Care Patients

BACKGROUND Text messaging (short message service, SMS) interventions show promise as a way to help cigarette smokers quit. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of text messaging (SMS) programs targeting smokers associated with primary care or hospital settings. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop a text messaging (SMS) program targeting primary care smokers. METHODS Adult smokers in primary care were recruited from February 2017 to April 2017. We sent patients 10 to 11 draft text messages (SMS) over 2 days and asked them to rate each message in real time. Patients were interviewed daily by telephone to discuss ratings, message preferences, and previous experiences with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Content analysis of interviews was directed by a step-wise text messaging (SMS) intervention development process and the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of medication adherence. RESULTS We sent 149 text messages (SMS) to 15 patients. They replied with ratings for 93% (139/149) of the messages: 134 (96%, 134/139) were rated as clear or useful and 5 (4%, 5/139) as unclear or not useful. Patients’ preferences included the addition of graphics, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) content, and use of first names. Regarding NRT, patients identified informational gaps around safety and effectiveness, preferred positively framed motivational messages, and needed behavioral skills to dose and dispose of NRT. CONCLUSIONS Patients recommended text message (SMS) personalization, inclusion of e-cigarette information and graphics, and identified barriers to NRT use. Combining real-time ratings with telephone interviews is a feasible method for incorporating primary care patients’ preferences into a behavioral text messaging (SMS) program.

Download Full-text

Graphemic representation of text-messaging

Pragmatics ◽

10.1075/prag.19.3.05spi ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 393-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tereza Spilioti

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

New Media ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Short Message Service ◽

Text Messages ◽

Greek Text ◽

Short Message ◽

Age Group ◽

Message Service ◽

Technological Affordances

The aim of this study is to investigate the choice of alphabetical encoding in Greek text-messaging (or Short Message Service, SMS). The analysis will be based on a corpus of 447 text-messages exchanged among participants who belong to the age group of ‘youth’ (15-25 years old) and live in Athens (Greece). The data analysis will show that the standard practice of writing with Greek characters represents the norm in Greek SMS. The script norm will be discussed in relation to the medium’s technological affordances and the participants’ stance towards new media. The analysis will then focus on non-standard graphemic choices, such as the use of both, Greek and Roman, alphabets in the encoding of single messages. It will be demonstrated that such marked choices are employed as a means of indexing the participants’ affiliation with global popular cultures and enhancing expressivity in a medium of reduced paralinguistic cues.

Download Full-text

The Feasibility of a Using a Smart Button Mobile Health System to Self-Track Medication Adherence and Deliver Tailored Short Message Service Text Message Feedback (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13558 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca J Bartlett Ellis ◽

James H Hill ◽

K Denise Kerley ◽

Arjun Sinha ◽

Aaron Ganci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medication Adherence ◽

Mobile Health ◽

Short Message Service ◽

Electronic Monitoring ◽

Text Message ◽

Text Messages ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Short Message ◽

Clinic Setting ◽

Message Service

BACKGROUND As many as 50% of people experience medication nonadherence, yet studies for detecting nonadherence and delivering real-time interventions to improve adherence are lacking. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies show promise to track and support medication adherence. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using an mHealth system for medication adherence tracking and intervention delivery. The mHealth system comprises a smart button device to self-track medication taking, a companion smartphone app, a computer algorithm used to determine adherence and then deliver a standard or tailored SMS (short message service) text message on the basis of timing of medication taking. Standard SMS text messages indicated that the smartphone app registered the button press, whereas tailored SMS text messages encouraged habit formation and systems thinking on the basis of the timing the medications were taken. METHODS A convenience sample of 5 adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who were prescribed antihypertensive medication, participated in a 52-day longitudinal study. The study was conducted in 3 phases, with a standard SMS text message sent in phases 1 (study days 1-14) and 3 (study days 46-52) and tailored SMS text messages sent during phase 2 (study days 15-45) in response to participant medication self-tracking. Medication adherence was measured using: (1) the smart button and (2) electronic medication monitoring caps. Concordance between these 2 methods was evaluated using percentage of measurements made on the same day and occurring within ±5 min of one another. Acceptability was evaluated using qualitative feedback from participants. RESULTS A total of 5 patients with CKD, stages 1-4, were enrolled in the study, with the majority being men (60%), white (80%), and Hispanic/Latino (40%) of middle age (52.6 years, SD 22.49; range 20-70). The mHealth system was successfully initiated in the clinic setting for all enrolled participants. Of the expected 260 data points, 36.5% (n=95) were recorded with the smart button and 76.2% (n=198) with electronic monitoring. Concordant events (n=94), in which events were recorded with both the smart button and electronic monitoring, occurred 47% of the time and 58% of these events occurred within ±5 min of one another. Participant comments suggested SMS text messages were encouraging. CONCLUSIONS It was feasible to recruit participants in the clinic setting for an mHealth study, and our system was successfully initiated for all enrolled participants. The smart button is an innovative way to self-report adherence data, including date and timing of medication taking, which were not previously available from measures that rely on recall of adherence. Although the selected smart button had poor concordance with electronic monitoring caps, participants were willing to use it to self-track medication adherence, and they found the mHealth system acceptable to use in most cases.

Download Full-text

An Automated Text Messaging System (Tonsil-Text-To-Me) to Improve Tonsillectomy Perioperative Experience: Exploratory Qualitative Usability and Feasibility Study

JMIR Perioperative Medicine ◽

10.2196/14601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. e14601

Author(s):

Nathan Farias ◽

Benjamin Rose-Davis ◽

Paul Hong ◽

Lori Wozney

Keyword(s):

Parental Stress ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Perioperative Period ◽

Text Messages ◽

Information Delivery ◽

High Threshold ◽

Semistructured Interview ◽

Current Standard ◽

Message Service

Background Inexperience and forgetting perioperative care instruction are significant drivers of parental stress during pediatric tonsillectomy care. With the widespread use of mobile technology, parents now desire a system that provides them with information that is timely, accessible, and comprehensive. Tonsil-Text-To-Me (TTTM) is a text messaging system that sends out automated and timed texts to parents of children who are undergoing tonsillectomy. Objective The objective of this study was to pilot-test TTTM to assess for feasibility and usability and collect suggestions for system improvements desired by parents from a pediatric otolaryngology text message service. Methods Parents of pediatric patients who were being scheduled for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy were prospectively enrolled. An exploratory qualitative study using a semistructured interview guide was performed after parents received the automated texts 2 weeks before and 1 week after their child’s surgery. Results A total of 7 parents were interviewed (data saturation was reached). Participants were all of maternal relation to the patient. Overall, all parents felt that the TTTM service was an improvement to the current standard model of information delivery. Parents also reported that the text messages reduced their anxiety and improved their performance when caring for their children during the perioperative period. No parents expressed privacy concerns about receiving texts and regarding the information included in the messages. Service suggestions showed that parents were eager for more information and had a high threshold for message reception regarding their child’s surgical care. Conclusions All parents expressed enthusiasm for a text message service during their child’s tonsillectomy perioperative period. The care instructions and reminders provided to parents via automated and timed text messages may be a strategy to improve information delivery in a simple and accessible format that could empower families in their own health care.

Download Full-text