A mobile health intervention for inner city patients with poorly controlled diabetes: proof-of-concept of the TExT-MED program

Abstract

Objective: Numerous mobile health (mHealth) interventions are being developed to aid in management of complex chronic medical conditions. However, the acceptance of mHealth programs by low-income, bilingual populations has not yet been evaluated. The Trial to Examine Text-based mHealth for Emergency department patients with Diabetes (TExT-MED) program is a text message-based mHealth program designed specifically for resource-poor patients with diabetes. We conducted a prospective proof-of-concept trial to assess satisfaction and preliminary effectiveness of the TExT-MED program.

Research design and methods: A consecutive sample of adult patients in the emergency department with diabetes and a text message-capable mobile phone was enrolled in the TExT-MED program. Participants received three text messages daily for 3 weeks in English or Spanish in the following domains: educational/motivational, medication reminders, healthy living challenges, diabetes trivia, and links to free diabetes management tools.

Results: Twenty-three patients with diabetes (median hemoglobin A1c, 8.9%) were enrolled in TExT-MED. In the week before TExT-MED, 56.5% of subjects reported eating fruits/vegetables daily versus 83% after, 43.5% reported exercising before versus 74% after, and 74% reported performing foot checks before versus 85% after. Self-efficacy, measured by the Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form, improved from 3.9 to 4.2. Scores on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale improved more dramatically from 3.5 to 4.75. Ninety percent of participants indicated they would like to continue the program, and 100% would recommend the program to family or friends.

Conclusions: This pilot trial of the TExT-MED program demonstrated increased healthy behaviors, improved diabetes self-efficacy and medication adherence, and received excellent satisfaction scores in resource-poor, inner city patients with diabetes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01403831.