Text Message Reminders for Medication Refills Not Effective in the Long Term
A recent study published in JAMA has shed light on the effectiveness of text message reminders for patients who delay refilling their medications. The study, which enrolled over 9,000 patients in a randomized pragmatic clinical trial, aimed to determine whether text message reminders could improve medication refill adherence over a year. Surprisingly, the results showed that while text message reminders initially improved refill adherence over the first three months, they were not effective in the long term.
The study included a diverse population, ensuring representation from various subgroups such as females, Hispanic ethnicity, and Spanish-speaking patients. This diversity was crucial in understanding how different backgrounds and experiences can influence preferences for communication methods and technology behaviors.
Lead author Michael Ho, MD, emphasized the importance of studying the sustained effects of text message reminders in healthcare settings. “There are a lot of studies focusing on using technology to improve health behaviors, but it’s unclear whether text message reminders are effective in the long term,” said Ho.
The researchers compared different types of text messaging strategies to usual care in an effort to improve medication refill adherence for chronic cardiovascular medications. Messages were sent in either English or Spanish based on patients’ language preference, and they were delivered when patients had a refill gap of more than seven days.
While the study found that refill adherence improved by five percentage points over the first three months, there was no significant improvement at the 12-month mark. This lack of sustained effect was consistent across all genders and races, regardless of the type of message used.
Senior author Sheana Bull, Ph.D., highlighted the need for new strategies to improve medication refill adherence, especially as the prevalence of chronic medical conditions continues to rise. The researchers are now exploring more advanced digital technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to enhance longer-term behaviors related to medication refills.
In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest that while text message reminders may be effective in the short term, they are not a sustainable solution for improving medication refill adherence over time. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to explore innovative strategies to support patients in managing their chronic conditions effectively.
For more information, you can refer to the original article published in JAMA. This study was conducted by researchers from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, a leading institution in healthcare research and innovation. Stay tuned for further updates on how technology can be leveraged to enhance patient care and outcomes in the future.
