title: Reinforcement of adherence to prescription recommendations in Asian Indian diabetes patients using short message service (SMS)--a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of using short message services (SMS) via cell phones to ensure adherence to management prescriptions by diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type 2 diabetic patients with 5 or more years of diabetes and having HbA1c between 7.0% to 10% were randomized to the control arm (n = 105) to receive standard care and to the intervention arm (SMS, n = 110). Messages in English on principles of diabetes management were sent once in 3 days, the contents and frequencies varied as per the patients' preferences. The study duration was 1 year. All participants were advised to report for quarterly clinic visits. A comparative assessment of the clinical, biochemical and anthropometric outcomes was made among the groups at the annual visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Annual review was possible in 71% of intervention group and 63% of control group. SMS was acceptable to the patients and the median number requested was 2 per week. HbA1c and plasma lipids improved significantly in the SMS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot study showed that frequent communication via SMS was acceptable to diabetic patients and it helped to improve the health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Ananth Samith
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Snehalatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chamukuttan
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanditha
authors.forename: Roopesh Kumar Champat
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Ambady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D040421:Cell Phone; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007194:India; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012648:Self Care; D060145:Text Messaging
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin