Text Messaging Can Boost Medication Adherence by Chronically Ill Patients

Patient adherence to medication regimens by those with chronic conditions is a common problem and can lead to serious consequences. It is estimated that three out of four Americans fail to take their medication as prescribed.

In a study conducted at the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, Australia, researchers including Jay Thakkar, a PhD student at the University of Sydney, and associate professor Clara Chow, director of the Cardiovascular Division at the Institute and cardiologist at Westmead Hospital, determined that by using text message reminders, medication adherence by patients with chronic disease nearly doubles.

The study was a result of a systematic review of 16 randomized clinical trials.

“This study furthers my belief that m-Health strategies are one of the simplest, most affordable ways to save lives,” said Chow. “Global governments and policymakers should look closely at these compelling findings for a scalable, effective and inexpensive method of getting patients with chronic diseases to take their lifesaving medicine.”

This study builds on a previous JAMA report, the TEXT ME (Tobacco, Exercise and Diet Messages) study, led by Chow last year, which showed a simple text message system can improve the health of heart attack survivors by helping to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and weight.

Researchers warned that the results, while promising, should be interpreted with caution given the short duration of trials and reliance on self-reported medication adherence. 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.