“Just Text Meâ€: Using Text Messaging as a Patient Evaluation Tool – The SIMPle Study
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Abstract
Background: The utilisation of text messaging to support behavioural change interventions such as smoking cessation and breast feeding is increasing, however, the use of text messaging as an evaluation tool is novel in the Irish setting. In 2009, Irish citizens were the second highest users of text messaging in Europe, sending an average of 2,700 text messages per year. In 2010, there were an estimated 5.5 million mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland equating to a mobile telephone penetration of 119%.
The Supporting the Improvement and Management of Prescribing for Urinary Tract Infections (SIMPle) randomised trial incorporated text messaging as part of its outcome evaluation. SIMPle aimed to improve the quality and quantity of prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTI) in the general practice setting. A two-way text messaging process was incorporated to evaluate the treatment the patient received from the General Practitioner (GP) and the duration of their UTI symptoms.
Objective: The objective is to explore the applicability of text messaging as a patient evaluation tool as part of a randomised trial.
Methods: During the UTI consultation, GPs introduced the SIMPle study to patients and asked for their mobile telephone number. Urine samples with an accompanying laboratory diagnostic form on which the mobile number was written, were sent for analysis to the local laboratory. The SIMPle research team collected the mobile telephone numbers which were subsequently uploaded to a secure encrypted database. This database initiated an automated text message process. Explicit consent was obtained from the patients by responding YES to the first text message. Patients who did not consent after a reminder message were automatically deleted from the database. All texts were free for patients to send and receive.
Patients who consented received a multiple choice question for three consecutive days. Responses were automatically stored within a secure encrypted online database. An age and gender patient profile is being developed.
Results: During the six month intervention period more than 1000 patient phone numbers were collected from 30 participating practices. Approximately 23% of patients who submitted mobile telephone numbers engaged with the text messaging process, 8% actively opted out whilst 3% were discarded due to the format of the numbers. Seven patients consented to the process but subsequently opted out. The majority of patients who responded did so within 15 minutes of receiving the text message.
Conclusions:Text messaging offers a convenient method to obtain instant, ongoing and comprehensive information when evaluating patient care in the general practice setting. Text messaging can capture patient experiences during an acute episode which usually only requires one GP consultation. Text messaging empowers patients to monitor their own health whilst participating in research.
The Supporting the Improvement and Management of Prescribing for Urinary Tract Infections (SIMPle) randomised trial incorporated text messaging as part of its outcome evaluation. SIMPle aimed to improve the quality and quantity of prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTI) in the general practice setting. A two-way text messaging process was incorporated to evaluate the treatment the patient received from the General Practitioner (GP) and the duration of their UTI symptoms.
Objective: The objective is to explore the applicability of text messaging as a patient evaluation tool as part of a randomised trial.
Methods: During the UTI consultation, GPs introduced the SIMPle study to patients and asked for their mobile telephone number. Urine samples with an accompanying laboratory diagnostic form on which the mobile number was written, were sent for analysis to the local laboratory. The SIMPle research team collected the mobile telephone numbers which were subsequently uploaded to a secure encrypted database. This database initiated an automated text message process. Explicit consent was obtained from the patients by responding YES to the first text message. Patients who did not consent after a reminder message were automatically deleted from the database. All texts were free for patients to send and receive.
Patients who consented received a multiple choice question for three consecutive days. Responses were automatically stored within a secure encrypted online database. An age and gender patient profile is being developed.
Results: During the six month intervention period more than 1000 patient phone numbers were collected from 30 participating practices. Approximately 23% of patients who submitted mobile telephone numbers engaged with the text messaging process, 8% actively opted out whilst 3% were discarded due to the format of the numbers. Seven patients consented to the process but subsequently opted out. The majority of patients who responded did so within 15 minutes of receiving the text message.
Conclusions:Text messaging offers a convenient method to obtain instant, ongoing and comprehensive information when evaluating patient care in the general practice setting. Text messaging can capture patient experiences during an acute episode which usually only requires one GP consultation. Text messaging empowers patients to monitor their own health whilst participating in research.
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