title: Outpatient blood pressure monitoring using bi-directional text messaging.
abstract: To diagnose hypertension, multiple blood pressure (BP) measurements are recommended. We randomized patients into three groups: EMR-only (patients recorded BP measurements in an electronic medical record [EMR] web portal), EMR + reminders (patients were sent text message reminders to record their BP measurements in the EMR), and bi-directional text messaging (patients were sent a text message asking them to respond with their current BP). Subjects were asked to complete 14 measurements. Automated messages were sent to each patient in the bi-directional text messaging and EMR + reminder groups twice daily. Among 121 patients, those in the bi-directional text messaging group reported the full 14 measurements more often than both the EMR-only group (P < .001) and the EMR + reminders group (P = .038). Also, the EMR + reminders group outperformed the EMR-only group (P < .001). Bi-directional automated text messaging is an effective way to gather patient BP data. Text-message-based reminders alone are an effective way to encourage patients to record BP measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. Electronic address: linnea-polgreen@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Linnea A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Polgreen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chounramany
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Coralville, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Goerdt
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Coralville, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Coralville, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suneja
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Segre
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Coralville, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Polgreen
mesh_terms: D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017010:Reminder Systems; D060145:Text Messaging; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Mobile health; telehealth; text message