title: Mobile Telephone Text Messaging for Medication Adherence in Chronic Disease: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adherence to long-term therapies in chronic disease is poor. Traditional interventions to improve adherence are complex and not widely effective. Mobile telephone text messaging may be a scalable means to support medication adherence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to assess the effect of mobile telephone text messaging on medication adherence in chronic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and CINAHL (from database inception to January 15, 2015), as well as reference lists of the articles identified. The data were analyzed in March 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trials evaluating a mobile telephone text message intervention to promote medication adherence in adults with chronic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two authors independently extracted information on study characteristics, text message characteristics, and outcome measures as per the predefined protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odds ratios and pooled data were calculated using random-effects models. Risk of bias and study quality were assessed as per Cochrane guidelines. Disagreement was resolved by consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen randomized clinical trials were included, with 5 of 16 using personalization, 8 of 16 using 2-way communication, and 8 of 16 using a daily text message frequency. The median intervention duration was 12 weeks, and self-report was the most commonly used method to assess medication adherence. In the pooled analysis of 2742 patients (median age, 39 years and 50.3% [1380 of 2742] female), text messaging significantly improved medication adherence (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.52-2.93; P < .001). The effect was not sensitive to study characteristics (intervention duration or type of disease) or text message characteristics (personalization, 2-way communication, or daily text message frequency). In a sensitivity analysis, our findings remained robust to change in inclusion criteria based on study quality (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.21-2.29; P = .002). There was moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 62%) across clinical trials. After adjustment for publication bias, the point estimate was reduced but remained positive for an intervention effect (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.18-2.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobile phone text messaging approximately doubles the odds of medication adherence. This increase translates into adherence rates improving from 50% (assuming this baseline rate in patients with chronic disease) to 67.8%, or an absolute increase of 17.8%. While promising, these results should be interpreted with caution given the short duration of trials and reliance on self-reported medication adherence measures. Future studies need to determine the features of text message interventions that improve success, as well as appropriate patient populations, sustained effects, and influences on clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia2The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thakkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurup
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey-Lea
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Laba
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Santo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Aravinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiagalingam
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia4The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, England5Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Blumber.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redfern
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia2The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Clara K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017010:Reminder Systems; D060145:Text Messaging