title: The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Text Messaging in Improving Medication Adherence for Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication non-adherence is a commonly observed problem in the self-administration of treatment, regardless of the disease type. Text messaging reminders, as electronic reminders, provide an opportunity to improve medication adherence. In this study, we aimed to provide evidence addressing the question of whether text message reminders were effective in improving patients' adherence to medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a systematic literature search, using the five electronic bibliographic databases: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials. Studies were included on the basis of whether they examined the benefits and effects of short-message service (SMS) interventions on medication adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this systematic review indicated that text messaging interventions have improved patients' medication adherence rate (85%, 29.34). Included in the review, those who had problems with adherence, or those whom text messaging was most helpful had HIV, asthma, diabetes, schizophrenia and heart disease (73.5%). The period of intervention varied from 1 week to 14 months. The most common study design was randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (66%) carried out in the developed countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the potential of mobile phone text messaging for medication non-adherence problem solving.
authors.affiliation: Health Information Management Department, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Roghayeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ershad Sarabi
authors.affiliation: Health Information Management Department, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sadoughi
authors.affiliation: Health Information Management Department, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Roohangiz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamshidi Orak
authors.affiliation: Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute of Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bahaadinbeigy
keywords: Cellular Phones; Chronic Disease; Medication Adherence; Review; Text Messaging