Varma Deepthi Satheesa, Hart Mark, McIntyre Denise Sonya, Kwiatkowski Evan, Cottler Linda Bauer
College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
JMIR Res Protoc. 2016 Jun 28;5(2):e133. doi: 10.2196/resprot.5854.
Mobile phoned-based interventions have been increasingly used in clinical populations to improve health and health care delivery. The literature has shown that mobile phone-based text messages (short message service, SMS) are instantaneous, cost effective, and have less chance of being misplaced. Studies using mobile phone based-text messages have reported text messages as effective reminders that have resulted in increased appointment attendance, adherence to treatment, and better self-management. There have been no reports of adverse events when using text messaging in terms of misreading or misinterpreting data, transmitting inaccurate data, losing verbal or nonverbal communication cues, privacy issues, or failure or delay in message delivery. However, the literature has cited a need for personalized messages that are more responsive to individual needs. In addition, there has been a dearth of information on the use of reminders in nonclinical populations.
The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of adding reminders in the form of text messaging versus reminder calls versus text messages and reminder calls to increase use of service referrals provided through community outreach.
A total of 300 participants will be recruited for the study. Each participant will be randomized to one of three arms: a group that receives only reminder calls (CALLSONLY); a group that receives only text message reminders (TEXTONLY); and a group that receives both reminder calls and text messages (CALLS+TEXT). All groups will receive their reminder intervention on the 15th and 45th day after baseline when they receive medical and social service referrals from the community health workers (CHWs). A standard script will be used to administer the call and text reminders and a 15-item telephone-based satisfaction survey will be administered to assess the participant satisfaction with the process of receiving periodic reminders.
The study is in the recruitment and follow-up phase. The authors anticipate completion of recruitment, interventions, and data entry by July 2016. Preliminary results are expected to be available by September 2016.
This study will provide an opportunity to test the effectiveness of mobile-based interventions on nonclinical, community-recruited populations. In particular, such a protocol would increase the effectiveness of a community-based engagement program by instating a formal reminder system for all program members who receive social and/or medical service referrals during outreach in the community. Findings from this study would guide the development and implementation of reminder protocols for community-based engagement programs nationwide.
基于手机的干预措施已越来越多地应用于临床人群，以改善健康状况和医疗服务的提供。文献表明，基于手机的短信（短消息服务，SMS）即时性强、成本效益高，且丢失的可能性较小。使用基于手机短信的研究报告称，短信是有效的提醒方式，可提高预约就诊率、治疗依从性，并改善自我管理。在使用短信时，尚未有关于误读或误解数据、传输不准确数据、丢失言语或非言语沟通线索、隐私问题或消息传递失败或延迟等不良事件的报告。然而，文献指出需要更能满足个体需求的个性化消息。此外，关于在非临床人群中使用提醒的信息匮乏。
本研究的目的是评估以短信形式添加提醒、提醒电话以及短信和提醒电话相结合这三种方式，对增加通过社区外展提供的服务转介使用情况的有效性。
本研究共招募300名参与者。每位参与者将被随机分配到三个组之一：仅接收提醒电话的组（仅电话组）；仅接收短信提醒的组（仅短信组）；以及同时接收提醒电话和短信的组（电话 + 短信组）。所有组将在基线后的第15天和第45天，即从社区卫生工作者（CHW）处收到医疗和社会服务转介时，接受提醒干预。将使用标准脚本来进行电话和短信提醒，并进行一项基于电话的15项满意度调查，以评估参与者对接收定期提醒过程的满意度。
本研究正处于招募和随访阶段。作者预计在2016年7月完成招募、干预和数据录入。预计2016年9月可获得初步结果。
本研究将提供一个机会，来测试基于手机的干预措施对从社区招募的非临床人群的有效性。特别是，这样一个方案将通过为在社区外展期间收到社会和/或医疗服务转介的所有项目成员建立一个正式的提醒系统，提高基于社区的参与项目的有效性。本研究的结果将指导全国范围内基于社区的参与项目提醒方案的制定和实施。
