Text in the City: Implementation of a clinic-based text messaging program to educate and inform

Abstract

Text messaging has become the primary method of communication among teenagers and young adults. Cell phone owners between the ages of 18 and 24 exchange an average of 109.5 messages on a normal day; this suggests that text messaging may play a role in communication between adolescent patients and their healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a text messaging program for complimenting a clinical visit and augmenting health education in an adolescent healthcare setting. An integrated texting platform included three components: birth control reminders, health education messages, and a 'chat' function. Of the 700 patients made aware of the program in a 6-month period, 42% (291/700) used text messaging at least once for birth control adherence or educational purposes. The ability for patients to text questions confidentially and anonymously was popular with many questions requesting information about proper use of birth control. The study showed that text messaging may be a valuable and feasible tool to augment health education efforts for adolescents attending a primary care setting. Further studies are ongoing determining the effectiveness of text messaging in improving outcomes of patient adherence to and correct use of birth control methods.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• Text messaging
• Health education
• Birth control
• STIs

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katherine Malbon

Dr Katherine Malbon is currently an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, New York. She completed her medical training at Manchester University, UK, in 1997 and trained in Pediatrics in London. In 2009 she began a Fellowship in Adolescent Medicine. Her research interests are in sexual & reproductive health and technological intervention.

Sasha Clifton Oxnard

Dr. Sasha Clifton Oxnard is a Family Medicine resident at Tufts/CHA. She received her MD from Harvard and her MPH from the London School. She was involved with the development and implementation of Text in the City during a Doris Duke Research Fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

L Oriana Linares

Dr. Lourdes Oriana Linares, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, is a developmental psychologist who has been developed and evaluated psychosocial intervention programs for disadvantaged youth who experienced child maltreatment. For the past two decades, she has received reseach funds from the NIH, CDC, SAMHSA, NCAN and other federal agencies to conduct intervention research studies. She is currently examining the neurophysiological correlates of exposure to teen dating violence.

Anne Nucci-Sack

Dr. Nucci-Sack is a board certified Pediatrician/Adolescent Medicine specialist. She is the Medical Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. Dr. Nucci-Sack has contributed to publications on general adolescent health and holds the rank of Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.