title: The use of short message service (SMS) among hospitalized coronary patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of cell phones and short message service (SMS, also called "texting") has become pervasive in Western society and increasingly throughout the world. Despite the importance of this technology in everyday life, little is known about how patients draw on SMS to keep in contact with family and friends during their hospitalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was distributed to patients with coronary artery disease discharged from a Norwegian university hospital during the period from June 2005 to June 2006. In addition to questions pertaining to demographics, illness and treatment, mental distress, personality traits, perceived control, Internet usage and lifestyle, respondents were asked if they had contact with family and friends by SMS while in the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred twelve responded (59%), of which 216 had undergone surgery and 196 had undergone percutaneous coronary interventions. Sixty-three percent had used SMS to keep in touch with family and friends during their stay at the hospital. Use of SMS was positively predicted by Internet usage, gender and the personality trait of Openness, and was negatively predicted by the belief that illness and health were caused by luck or destiny.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SMS is an important means of communication during hospitalization for a majority of coronary disease inpatients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergvik
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wynn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*