The use of text messaging to improve asthma control a study of short message service (SMS)
The use of text messaging to improve asthma control a study of short message service (SMS)
LATHY PRABHAKARAN 1, JANE C 1,CHUA K C2, WONG W M3, ABISHEGANANDED J 4,
Department of Nursing 1, Clinical Research Unit 2, National Health Care Group3, Respiratory Medicine 4, TanTock Seng Hospital, Singapore
RESULTS
METHODOLOGY
The recruitment started in August 2007.
All consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosisof asthma were screen using inclusion and exclusioncriteria.
Patients were randomized into 60 in the control and60 in the intervention group.
Patients in the intervention group received SMSmessaging following a structured workflow whereaspatients in the control group had no SMS support.
BACKGROUND
Patients with chronic disease are being followed upregularly in hospital clinics. This had added on to theburden of hospitals focusing on treating acute andcomplicated patients.
Stable chronic disease patients can safely and rightfullybe monitored at home, returning to hospital forconsultation only when there are changes in his or herconditions.
The use of technologies to improve of patient behaviouris documented within several area e.g. vaccination1 oralcontraceptives2 and use of prescribed medication3 .
Home monitoring was used to collect data of patientsfor better clinical management and to avoid unnecessaryvisits to expensive tertiary care institutions, whileallowing patients to be safely monitored
Coupled with a highly educated population and goodaccessibility of technologies in Singapore, it is imminentfor NHG to explore engaging patients in HomeMonitoring.
In this pilot service patients receive SMS on theirmobile phone
CONCLUSION
We found reliable difference in patientcharacteristics to suggest that the SMS service maynot be suitable for certain types of patients.
Implementation efforts should be aware that othermethods of outreach may be necessary for thesepatient subgroups.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
•The authors would like to thank Ms Syahidah Salleh2nd year nursing student from Nee Ann Poly for herassistance in data entry and management.
REFERENCES
Vilella et al. The role of mobile phones in improving vaccination ratesin travelers. Prev.Med.2004 Apr;38(4):503-509.
1.Fox et al. Feasibility study of the use of daily electronic mailreminder to improve oral contraceptivecompliance.Contraception.2008 Nov; 68(5):365-371.
2.Hagstrom et al. What happened to the prescriptions? A single shortstandardized telephone call may increase compliance. FamPract.2004 Feb;21(1):46-50.
Figure 1: Asthma cases screen during the recruitment Aug 07-June 08Figure 1: Asthma cases screen during the recruitment Aug 07-June 08
Table 1: Analysis of demographic for exclusion from the study
Demographic characteristics
P value
Sex
NS
Age
P <0.001
Race
Chinese
P=0.001
Malay
P<0.001
Indian
P = 0.6
AIMS OF STUDY
To evaluate the feasibility of using SMS for symptomsmonitoring through mobile phones by patients admittedfor asthma
Asthma casesscreen from Aug 07to June 08
N = 497
Excluded
N = 377
Control group
N = 60
Intervention Group
N = 6o
Figure 2: Frequency distribution of reason for exclusion