title: The feasibility of using SMS as a health survey tool: an exploratory study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility of using SMS to conduct health surveys in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a two-way SMS system, we conducted a baseline survey using a short and a long quality of life instrument, with two follow-up administrations of the short survey among patients with RA on follow-up at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Our outcome variables were survey response rate, question response time, proportion of replies following the format instructions, and survey administration cost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 85 participants (of 99 eligible patients approached), the response rate was 67% for the long survey, 80% for the short survey at baseline, and 74% and 70% at the first and second follow-ups, respectively. Survey response rate varied with the employment status of respondents. Approximately 78% of all replies followed the format instructions. All these replies were received within the stipulated 24-h timeline and half of them were received within 29 min. Response time for the other 22% of replies that did not follow the format instructions was much longer. The average administration cost per survey was S$0.34 (equivalent of US$0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-way SMS is a promising tool to conduct short health surveys. Evidence for implementing long surveys over SMS is still weak. The post survey interviews with survey participants suggested that sequential delivery of survey questions coupled with SMS reminders in the interim, tailoring survey questions to individual health conditions, and providing feedback on individual survey results can potentially improve the response rate of such surveys.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Sharon Song Song
authors: SS
authors: Lee
authors: Xiaohui
authors: X
authors: Xin
authors: Wan Pin
authors: WP
authors: Lee
authors: Eugene Junying
authors: EJ
authors: Sim
authors: Benedict
authors: B
authors: Tan
authors: Michael Philip Geroche
authors: MP
authors: Bien
authors: Alexander See Tiung
authors: AS
authors: Lau
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Thumboo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult