Vlasta Vodopivec?Jamšek|Thyra de Jongh|Ipek Gurol?Urganci|Rifat Atun|Josip Car
Mobile phone messaging for preventive health care
University of Ljubljana|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|Imperial College London|University of Ljubljana|Imperial College London
preventive health care promotes health prevents disease injuries addressing factors lead onset disease detecting latent conditions reduce halt progression many risk factors costly disabling conditions cardiovascular diseases cancer diabetes chronic respiratory diseases prevented yet healthcare systems make best use available resources support process mobile phone messaging applications short message service sms multimedia message service mms could offer convenient costeffective way support desirable health behaviours preventive health careto assess effects mobile phone messaging interventions mode delivery preventive health care health status health behaviour outcomeswe searched cochrane central register controlled trials central cochrane library 2009 issue 2 medline ovidsp january 1993 june 2009 embase ovidsp january 1993 june 2009 psycinfo ovidsp january 1993 june 2009 cinahl ebscohost january 1993 june 2009 lilacs january 1993 june 2009 african health anthology january 1993 june 2009we also reviewed grey literature including trial registers reference lists articleswe included randomised controlled trials rcts quasirandomised controlled trials qrcts controlled beforeafter cba studies interrupted time series studies least three time points intervention included studies using sms mms mode delivery type preventive health care included studies possible assess effects mobile phone messaging independent technologies interventionstwo review authors independently assessed studies inclusion criteria disagreements resolved third review author study design features characteristics target populations interventions controls results data extracted two review authors confirmed third author primary outcomes interest health status health behaviour outcomes also considered patients providers evaluation intervention perceptions safety health service utilisation costs potential harms adverse effects included studies heterogeneous type condition addressed intervention characteristics outcome measures consider justified conduct metaanalysis derive overall effect size main outcome categories instead present findings narrativelywe included four randomised controlled trials involving 1933 participantsfor primary outcome category health moderate quality evidence one study women received prenatal support via mobile phone messages significantly higher satisfaction receive messages antenatal period mean difference md 125 95 confidence interval ci 078 172 perinatal period md 119 95 ci 037 201 confidence level also higher md 112 95 ci 051 173 anxiety level lower md 215 95 ci 342 088 control group antenatal period study differences observed groups perinatal period low quality evidence mobile phone messaging intervention affect pregnancy outcomes gestational age birth infant birth weight preterm delivery route deliveryfor primary outcome category health behaviour moderate quality evidence one study mobile phone message reminders take vitamin c preventive reasons resulted higher adherence risk ratio rr 141 95 ci 114 174 high quality evidence another study participants receiving mobile phone messaging support significantly higher likelihood quitting smoking control group 6 weeks rr 220 95 ci 179 270 12 weeks followup rr 155 95 ci 130 184 26 weeks significant difference groups participants missing data last known value carried forward low quality evidence one study mobile phone messaging interventions selfmonitoring healthy behaviours related childhood weight control statistically significant effect physical activity consumption sugarsweetened beverages screen timefor secondary outcome acceptability low quality evidence one study user evaluation intervention similar groups moderate quality evidence one study difference adverse effects intervention measured rates pain thumb finger joints car crash ratesnone studies reported secondary outcomes health service utilisation costs interventionwe found limited evidence certain cases mobile phone messaging interventions may support preventive health care improve health status health behaviour outcomes however low number participants three included studies combined study limitations risk bias lack demonstrated causality evidence effects low moderate quality evidence high quality interventions aimed smoking cessation furthermore significant information gaps regarding longterm effects risks limitations user satisfaction interventions