SMS Technology for the Promotion of Diabetes Education and Self-Management in Egypt

SMS Technology for the Promotion of Diabetes Education and Self-Management

This study was conducted at the teaching hospital of Misr University for Science & Technology. It aimed to examine the use of SMS technology in educating and monitoring diabetic patients in Egypt, and assess the impact of educational text messages on their glycemic control and self-management behaviors. Participants were randomized into an intervention and a control group. Intervention patients received an instruction booklet as well as daily educational and weekly reminder messages to better control their diabetes. Control patients received the same instruction booklet but no SMS messages. Both group patients took an HbA1c test at the beginning and end of the study period and were asked to measure their blood glucose once a week and record their readings into a monitoring table over 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in HbA1c levels, which was expected to be greater among intervention patients at the end of the study. Secondary outcomes included blood glucose levels, treatment and medication adherence, diabetes self-efficacy, rate of hospital/ER visits, frequency of blood glucose measurement, among others.

Inclusion Criteria:

• has diabetes
• owns a mobile phone
• can read SMS messages or lives with someone that can read for them.

Exclusion Criteria:

• cannot read or not SMS familiar and lives alone