Heather Cole-Lewis|Trace Kershaw
Text Messaging as a Tool for Behavior Change in Disease Prevention and Management
Yale University|Yale University
mobile phone text messaging potentially powerful tool behavior change widely available inexpensive instantthis systematic review provides overview behavior change interventions disease management prevention delivered text messagingevidence behavior change clinical outcomes compiled randomized quasiexperimental controlled trials text message interventions published peerreviewed journals june 2009only interventions using text message primary mode communication includedstudy quality assessed using standardized measureseventeen articles representing 12 studies 5 disease prevention 7 disease management includedintervention length ranged 3 months 12 months none longterm followup message frequency variedof 9 sufficiently powered studies 8 found evidence support text messaging tool behavior changeeffects exist across age minority status nationalitynine countries represented review problematic one developing country given potential benefits widely accessible relatively inexpensive tool health behavior changemethodological issues gaps literature highlighted recommendations future studies providedcellular phone