title: Facilitating pediatric patient-provider communications using wireless technology in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of wireless devices has the potential to transform delivery of primary care services for persons with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study examined text message communications between patients and an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and the different primary care activities that emerged with use of wireless technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N = 37; mean age 13.9 ± 1.8 years; 45.9% male and 54.1% female) engaged in intermittent text conversations with the APRN as part of the Wireless Pain Intervention Program. Content analyses were used to analyze the content of text message exchanges between patients and the APRN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary care needs that emerged were related to pain and symptom management and sickle cell crisis prevention. Two primary care categories (collaborating and coaching), four primary care subcategories (screening, referring, informing, and supporting), and 16 primary care activities were evident in text conversations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of wireless technology may facilitate screening, prompt management of pain and symptoms, prevention or reduction of SCD-related complications, more efficient referral for treatments, timely patient education, and psychosocial support in children and adolescents with SCD.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.ejacob@sonnet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Eufemia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pavlish
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stinson
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Lonnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeltzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010372:Pediatrics; D060145:Text Messaging; D059015:Wireless Technology