Dataset Information

Text-message reminders increase uptake of routine breast screening appointments: a randomised controlled trial in a hard-to-reach population.

ABSTRACT: There is a need for interventions to promote uptake of breast screening throughout Europe.We performed a single-blind randomised controlled trial to test whether text-message reminders were effective. Two thousand two hundred and forty women receiving their first breast screening invitation were included in the study and randomly assigned in a 1?:?1 ratio to receive either a normal invitation only (n=1118) or a normal invitation plus a text-message reminder 48?h before their appointment (n=1122).In the intention-to-treat analysis, uptake of breast screening was 59.1% among women in the normal invitation group and 64.4% in the text-message reminder group (?(2)=6.47, odds ratio (OR): 1.26, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.05-1.48, P=0.01). Of the 1122 women assigned to the text-message reminder group, only 456 (41%) had a mobile number recorded by their GP and were thereby sent a text. In the per-protocol analysis, uptake by those in the control group who had a mobile number recorded on the GP system was 59.77% and by those in the intervention group who were sent a reminder 71.7% (?(2)=14.12, OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.29-2.26, P<0.01).Sending women a text-message reminder before their first routine breast screening appointment significantly increased attendance. This information can be used to allocate resources efficiently to improve uptake without exacerbating social inequalities.

SUBMITTER: Kerrison RS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4366892 | biostudies-other | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Text-message reminders increase uptake of routine breast screening appointments: a randomised controlled trial in a hard-to-reach population.

Kerrison R S RS Shukla H H Cunningham D D Oyebode O O Friedman E E

British journal of cancer 20150317 6

<h4>Background</h4>There is a need for interventions to promote uptake of breast screening throughout Europe.<h4>Methods</h4>We performed a single-blind randomised controlled trial to test whether text-message reminders were effective. Two thousand two hundred and forty women receiving their first breast screening invitation were included in the study and randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to receive either a normal invitation only (n=1118) or a normal invitation plus a text-message reminder 48 ...[more]

PMID: 25668008

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Project description:BackgroundImproved routine immunization (RI) coverage is recommended as the priority public health strategy to decrease vaccine-preventable diseases and eradicate polio in Pakistan and worldwide.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to ascertain whether customized, automated, one-way text messaging (short message service, SMS) reminders delivered to caregivers via mobile phones when a child is due for an RI visit can improve vaccination uptake and timelines in Pakistan.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial, conducted in an urban squatter settlement area of Karachi, Pakistan. Infants less than 2 weeks of age with at least one family member who had a valid mobile phone connection and was comfortable receiving and reading SMS text messages were included. Participants were randomized to the intervention (standard care + one-way SMS reminder) or control (standard care) groups. The primary outcome was to compare the proportion of children immunized up to date at 18 weeks of age. Vaccine given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks schedule includes DPT-Hep-B-Hib vaccine (ie, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus; hepatitis B; and Haemophilus influenza type b) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests of independence and tested for both per protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses.ResultsOut of those approached, 84.3% (300/356) of the participants were eligible for enrollment and 94.1% (318/338) of the participants had a working mobile phone. Only children in the PP analyses, who received an SMS reminder for vaccine uptake at 6 weeks visit, showed a statistically significant difference (96.0%, 86/90 vs 86.4%, 102/118; P=.03).The immunization coverage was consistently higher in the intervention group according to ITT analyses at the 6 weeks scheduled visit (76.0% vs 71.3%, P=.36). The 10 weeks scheduled visit (58.7% vs 52.7%, P=.30) and the 14 weeks scheduled visit (31.3% vs 26.0%, P=.31), however, were not statistically significant.ConclusionsAutomated simple one-way SMS reminders in local languages might be feasible for improving routine vaccination coverage. Whether one-way SMS reminders alone can have a strong impact on parental attitudes and behavior for improvement of RI coverage and timeliness needs to be further evaluated by better-powered studies and by comparing different types and content of text messages in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01859546; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01859546 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xFr57AOc).

Project description:BACKGROUND:Truckers in sub-Saharan Africa are at higher risk of contracting HIV than the general population. HIV self-testing may be a way to increase testing rates in this high-risk population. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to assess whether informing truckers who do not test for HIV regularly about the availability of HIV self-testing kits at roadside wellness centers in Kenya using text messages would increase HIV testing rates compared to the current program in which they are sent text messages about the availability of HIV testing in general. METHODS:A sample of 2262 male truckers registered in the North Star Alliance electronic health record system who, based on these records, were not testing for HIV regularly were randomized to one of three study groups in which they were sent text messages about the availability of (1) oral HIV self-test kits at all 8 North Star Alliance Kenya clinics that was sent three times (intervention), (2) HIV testing in general (not self-testing) at all North Star Alliance clinics sent three times (enhanced standard of care [SOC]), or (3) HIV testing in general (not self-testing) at all North Star Alliance clinics sent one time (SOC). We looked at HIV testing over a 2-month study period following the first text. RESULTS:Truckers in the intervention group were significantly more likely to test for HIV compared to those in the enhanced SOC (OR?=?2.7, p?=?0.009). There was no difference in HIV testing between those in the enhanced SOC and the SOC groups. Of those in the intervention group who tested, 64.5% chose the self-test and 35.5% chose the standard provider-administered blood-based HIV test. Although the intervention more than doubled HIV testing rates, because HIV testing rates were so low in this population (by design as we selected irregular testers), even in the intervention group more than 96% of participants did not test. CONCLUSIONS:Announcing the availability of HIV self-testing via text message increased HIV testing rates among truckers who were not regularly accessing HIV testing. However, self-testing is only a partial solution to increasing testing rates in this hard to reach population. TRIAL REGISTRATION:This trial was registered prior to enrollment at the Registry for International Impact Evaluations (RIDIE STUDY ID: 582a2462ae2ab): http://ridie.3ieimpact.org/index.php?r=search/detailView&id=492 . It was also registered after completion at ClinicalTrials.gov ( ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03662165): https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03662165?term=NCT03662165&type=Intr&cond=HIV&rank=1 .

Project description:BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) has become an increasingly popular strategy to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes. Communicating results and health education via text may facilitate program planning and promote better engagement in care for women undergoing human papillomavirus (HPV) screening. We sought to develop and evaluate an mHealth strategy with enhanced text messaging to improve follow-up throughout the cervical cancer screening cascade.MethodsWomen aged 25-65 participated in HPV testing in six community health campaigns (CHCs) in western Kenya. Women received their HPV results via text message, phone call, or home visit. Those who opted for text in the first four communities received "standard" texts. After completing the fourth CHC, we conducted two focus group discussions with women to develop an "enhanced" text strategy, including modifying the content, number, and timing of texts, for the subsequent two communities. We compared the overall receipt of results and follow-up for treatment evaluation among women in standard and enhanced text groups.ResultsAmong 2,368 women who were screened in the first four communities, 566 (23.9%) received results via text, 1,170 (49.4%) via phone call, and 632 (26.7%) via home visit. In the communities where enhanced text notification was offered, 264 of the 935 screened women (28.2%) opted for text, 474 (51.2%) opted for phone call, and 192 (20.5%) for home visit. Among 555 women (16.8%) who tested HPV-positive, 257 (46.3%) accessed treatment, with no difference in treatment uptake between the standard text group (48/90, 53.3%) and the enhanced text group (22/41, 53.7%). More women in the enhanced text group had prior cervical cancer screening (25.8% vs. 18.4%; p < 0.05) and reported living with HIV (32.6% vs. 20.2%; p < 0.001) than those in the standard text group.ConclusionsModifying the content and number of texts as an enhanced text messaging strategy was not sufficient to increase follow-up in an HPV-based cervical cancer screening program in western Kenya. A one-size approach to mHealth delivery does not meet the needs of all women in this region. More comprehensive programs are needed to improve linkage to care to further reduce structural and logistical barriers to cervical cancer treatment.

Project description:OBJECTIVE:Millions of infants worldwide remain under-immunized and at risk for unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Text messaging may offer a low-cost solution. We aimed to evaluate text message reminders to improve infant immunization in Guatemala. METHODS:A randomized clinical trial was conducted at four public health clinics in rural and urban Guatemala. Infants ages six weeks to six months presenting for the first visit of the primary immunization series were randomly and equally allocated to an intervention or usual care group. Intervention participants were sent three text reminders before the second and third vaccine visits. The main outcome was timeliness of the second and third visits of the primary immunization series. RESULTS:Of 1088 families approached for enrollment between March to November 2016, 871 were eligible and 720 (82.7%) participated; only 54 families did not own a cell phone. Due to country-wide vaccine shortages, visit completion was used as a proxy for overall immunization coverage. In intention to treat analysis, both intervention and usual care groups had high rates of visit completion, but intervention participants presented on the scheduled date more often (151 [42.2%] of 358 intervention vs. 111 [30.7%] of 362 usual care participants for visit 2, p?=?0.001, and 112 [34.0%] of 329 intervention vs. 90 [27.0%] of 333 usual care participants for visit 3, p?=?0.05). Intervention caregivers were significantly more likely to want to receive future text message reminders for vaccines and other appointments and were more willing to pay for these reminders. CONCLUSION:Caregivers who were sent text message reminders in urban and rural Guatemala were less delayed for their child's immunization visits and reported high user satisfaction. Text message reminders may be an effective tool to increase infant vaccination coverage in low-income settings by reminding parents to vaccinate. TRIAL REGISTRATION:NCT02567006 at clinicaltrials.gov.

Dataset Information

Text-message reminders increase uptake of routine breast screening appointments: a randomised controlled trial in a hard-to-reach population.

Publications

Text-message reminders increase uptake of routine breast screening appointments: a randomised controlled trial in a hard-to-reach population.

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