Mobile phone text messaging and telephone follow-up in Iranian type 2 diabetic patients for 3 months: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of two methods of follow-up Short Message Service [SMS] versus telephone call on glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] in type 2 diabetes. This semi-experimental study consisted of 77 patients with type 2 diabetes who were randomly assigned into two groups telephone follow-up [n=39] and Short Message Service [n=38]. Telephone interventions were applied by researchers for 3 months. SMS group received message daily for 12 weeks. Data were collected using data sheet to record HbA1c and a questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 using descriptive and inferential statistics methods. Demographic variables were confirmed to be homogenous. The results of this study showed that both interventions had significant mean changes in HbA1c; for the telephone group [P=0.001] with a mean change of -0.93% and for the SMS group [P=0.001] with a mean change of -1.01%. The findings of this research showed that intervention using SMS via mobile phone and nurse-led-telephone follow-up improves HbA1c for three months in type 2 diabetic patients and it can be considered as an alternative method for diabetes control