title: Diabetes buddies: peer support through a mobile phone buddy system.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile phone-based peer support intervention among women in resource-poor settings to self-manage their diabetes. Secondary goals were to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness to motivate diabetes-related health choices.
  
  
  
  Women with diabetes (n = 22) in Cape Town, South Africa, participated in a 12-week program focused on providing and applying knowledge of health routines to manage diabetes. Women were linked with a buddy via a mobile phone for support and were questioned daily about a health behavior via text message. Women were assessed at recruitment and then 3 and 6 months later by a trained interviewer using a mobile phone for data collection. The women were evaluated on technology uptake, reduction of body mass index, blood glucose levels, and increases in positive coping and general health-seeking behaviors.
  
  
  
  Women exchanged 16 739 text messages to buddies and received 3144 texts from the project. Women responded to 29% of texted questions (n = 1321/14 582). Women attended at least 9 of 12 possible intervention sessions; a third attended all 12 sessions (n = 8/22). Between baseline and 3 months, women increased their sleep and reported a higher level of positive action and social support coping, yet blood glucose increased by 3.3 points. From 3 to 6 months, spiritual hope decreased and diastolic blood pressure increased. One year later, the 22 women continue to attend meetings.
  
  
  
  Mobile phones are an easy and reliable way to provide peer support and disseminate health messages. Both positive and negative changes were observed in this pilot study.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (Dr Rotheram-Borus, Dr Comulada)
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rotheram-Borus
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa (Dr Tomlinson)
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: Women for Peace, Western Cape, South Africa (Ms Gwegwe)
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gwegwe
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (Dr Rotheram-Borus, Dr Comulada)
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Comulada
authors.affiliation: DPS Health, Los Angeles, California (Dr Kaufman)
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Sport Science and Development, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa (Dr Keim)
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose