title: Feasibility and Perceptions of Cell Phone-Based, Health-Related Communication With Adolescents in an Economically Depressed Area.
abstract: We examined the feasibility and perception of cell-based (texting, voicemail [VM], and email/social media), health-related communication with adolescents in Genesee County, MI, where 22% reside below the poverty level. Results of an anonymous survey found that 86% of respondents owned a cell phone, 87% had data, 96% texted, 90.5% emailed/used social media, and 68% had VM. Most adolescents were interested in cell-based communication via texting (52%), VM (37%), and email/social media (31%). Interest in types of health communication included appointment reminders (99% texting; 94% VM; 95% email/social media), shot reminders (84.5% texting; 74.5% VM; 81% email/social media), call for test results (71.5% texting; 75% VM; 65% email/social media), medication reminders (63% texting; 54% VM; 58% e-mail/social media), and health tips (36% texting; 18.5% VM; 73% email/social media). Cell-based health-related communication with adolescents is feasible even within low socioeconomic status populations, primarily via texting. Health providers should embrace cell-based patient communication.
authors.affiliation: 1 Hurley Children's Hospital/Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA.|2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawni
authors.affiliation: 1 Hurley Children's Hospital/Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA.|2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cederna-Meko
authors.affiliation: 1 Hurley Children's Hospital/Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA.|2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jenny L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: LaChance
authors.affiliation: 2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.|3 George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buttigieg
authors.affiliation: 2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.|4 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Quoc
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: 2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.|5 Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nunuk
authors.affiliation: 2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.|6 Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: 1 Hurley Children's Hospital/Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA.|2 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, E Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Burrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001294:Attitude to Health; D040421:Cell Phone; D002648:Child; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D011204:Poverty Areas; D017010:Reminder Systems; D061108:Social Media; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescents; cell phone; feasibility; health-related communication; low SES; perceptions; text messaging