Impacto das mensagens de texto para redução do absenteísmo às consultas especializadas: um estudo aleatorizado / Impacto de los mensajes de texto para reducir el absentismo en consultas especializadas: un estudio aleatorio / Impact of text messages to reduce absenteeism in specialized consultations: a aleatorized study

O objetivo deste estudo foi testar o impacto de um lembrete por mensagem de texto eletrônica, via WhatsApp®, sobre a taxa de absenteísmo nas consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Este estudo aleatorizado foi composto por um grupo controle e um experimental. Os participantes do grupo experimental receberam um aviso por WhatsApp® lembrando a data da consulta. Foram incluídos no estudo todos os usuários agendados (primeira vez e retornos) para consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Para as análises foi calculado os percentuais e realizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado de associação. Um total de 998 participantes foram incluídos para análise. A maioria dos participantes era do sexo masculino (59 porcent). A taxa de absenteísmo no grupo experimental foi de 24 porcent e no grupo controle, 25,5 porcent, representando uma diferença de 1,5 porcent (p= 0,580). A taxa de absenteísmo era particularmente mais alta para consultas agendadas na segunda-feira, com 30 porcent (p= 0,009). Globalmente, o uso de lembretes por mensagens de texto em estudos com diferentes populações reduz a taxa de absenteísmo. No entanto, nossas descobertas sugerem que o envio de mensagens de texto via WhatsApp® como lembretes de consulta não é uma ferramenta eficaz na redução do absenteísmo de subespecialidades pediátricas(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el impacto de un recordatorio a través de un mensaje de texto por WhatsApp® sobre la tasa de absentismo en las consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Este estudio aleatorizado fue compuesto por un grupo control y un grupo experimental. Los participantes del grupo experimental recibieron un recordatorio a través de WhatsApp® que rememoraba la fecha de la consulta. Todas las consultas programadas de la subespecialidad pediátrica, tanto las realizadas por primera vez como las siguientes, fueron incluidas en el estudio. Para el análisis fueron calculados los porcentajes mediante la prueba chi-cuadrado. Fueron incluidos 998 participantes en el análisis, de los cuales la mayoría eran hombres (59 por ciento). La tasa de absentismo del grupo experimental fue de 24 por ciento, mientras la del grupo control fue de 25,5 por ciento, lo que representa una diferencia del 1,5 por ciento (p= 0,580). La tasa de absentismo fue del 30 por ciento (p= 0,009), lo que resultó particularmente alta para las consultas programadas para los lunes. Generalmente los estudios que utilizaron mensajes de texto en diferentes poblaciones, como recordatorio, redujeron la tasa de absentismo de las consultas. Sin embargo, nuestros resultados sugieren que enviar mensajes de texto a través del WhatsApp® como recordatorio de consultas médicas no es una herramienta efectiva para reducir el absentismo en las subespecialidades pediátricas(AU)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of WhatsApp® text messaging reminders on the rate of non-attendance to pediatric specialty consultation. Randomized examination was conducted of a control group and an experimental group. Participants in the experimental group received a WhatsApp® reminder of the appointment date. All the appointments scheduled for the pediatric subspecialty were included, i.e. first-time appointments as well as those following. Data analysis was based on percentage estimation by the chi-square test. A total 998 participants were included in the analysis, most of whom were men (59 percent). The non-attendance rate was 24 percent in the experimental group and 25.5 percent in the control group, for a difference of 1.5 percent (p= 0.580). The non-attendance rate was 30 percent (p= 0.009), particularly high for appointments scheduled for Mondays. In general terms, studies using text messaging as reminders in different populations reduced the rate of non-attendance to consultation. However, our results suggest that sending WhatsApp® text messages as reminders of medical appointments is not an effective tool to reduce non-attendance to pediatric consultation(AU)

Adaptação de mensagens educativas para parceiros de gestantes para uso em tecnologias móveis em saúde (mHealth) / Adaptación de mensajes educativos para compañeros de embarazadas para el uso en tecnología móviles en salud (mHealth) / Adapting educational messages for partners of pregnant women for use in mobile health technologies (mHealth)

Neste artigo apresentamos os aspectos relacionados ao desenvolvimento e à avaliação de um serviço de short message service (SMS) - Pré-Natal no Celular (Prenacel) - voltado para parceiros de gestantes. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo com métodos participativos e desenvolvido em três etapas. Primeiro, as mensagens do programa global Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (Mama) foram traduzidas e adaptadas. Em seguida, um painel de especialistas avaliou as mensagens, dando notas e sugerindo alterações ou exclusões de algumas. As mensagens consolidadas na etapa anterior foram submetidas a um grupo focal, formado por agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) do sexo masculino, que analisou a linguagem e o entendimento das mensagens. Cada etapa foi avaliada pelos responsáveis pela pesquisa e o conteúdo final contou com 62 mensagens de texto apropriadas para os parceiros. Com a inclusão dos métodos participativos, foi possível estabelecer mensagens viáveis e acessíveis ao público-alvo.(AU)

En este artículo, presentamos los aspectos relacionados al desarrollo y a la evaluación de un servicio de SMS (Short Message Service) - PRENACEL (Pré-natal no Celular) enfocados en compañeros de embarazadas. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo con métodos participativos desarrollado en tres etapas. Primero, se tradujeron y adaptaron los mensajes del programa global MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action). A continuación, un panel de especialistas evaluó los mensajes, dando notas y sugiriendo alteraciones o exclusiones de algunas de ellas. Los mensajes consolidados en la etapa anterior se presentaron a un grupo focal, formado por Agentes Comunitarios de Salud del sexo masculino, que analizó el lenguaje y el entendimiento de los mensajes. Cada etapa fue evaluada por los responsables del estudio y el contenido final contó con 62 mensajes de texto adecuados para los compañeros. Con la inclusión de los métodos participativos fue posible establecer mensajes factibles y accesibles al público-objetivo.(AU)

In this paper, we present aspects related to the development and evaluation of a Short Message Service (SMS) - PRENACEL (Prenatal in the Mobile) aimed at partners of pregnant women. This is a qualitative study with participatory methods developed in three stages. First, the messages of the MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action) global program were translated. Then a group of experts evaluated those messages, assigning marks and suggesting changes to or exclusions of certain ones. The resulting messages that were consolidated from this stage were submitted to a focus group, formed by male Community Health Workers, who analyzed the language and the clearness of the messages. Each stage was evaluated by the leading researchers and the final content amounted to 62 text messages that were found to be appropriate for the partners of pregnant women. With the inclusion of participatory methods of evaluation it was possible to establish viable and accessible messages to the target public.(AU)

Efectividad del uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en la adherencia al tratamiento de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca / Effectiveness of the use of information and communication technologies in adherence to treatment of patients with heart failure

Propósito: La presente investigación tuvo como objeto determinar la efectividad del uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, en la adherencia al tratamiento de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca, que asisten a la Unidad de Insuficiencia Cardiaca de la Clínica Universitaria Colombia. Metodología: Se realizó un ensayo clínico con pre prueba, pos prueba y grupo control. Se conformaron aleatoriamente tres grupos de participantes cada uno, a dos de los cuales se les aplicó una intervención durante dos meses basada en el uso de Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación: el grupo 1 recibió seguimiento telefónico más envío de mensajes de texto, el grupo 2 seguimiento telefónico más envío de correos electrónicos; y el grupo 3 correspondiente al grupo control recibió la intervención de enfermería usual en la Unidad de Insuficiencia Cardiaca. Resultados: El uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación C en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca incremento la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico y no farmacológico, frente al grupo control que recibió la intervención de enfermería usual en la Unidad de Insuficiencia Cardiaca.

Purpose: The present study was to determine the effectiveness of using information and communications technology, adherence to treatment of patients with heart failure, attending the Heart Failure Unit at the University Hospital Colombia. Methodology: A clinical trial was conducted with pre test, post test and control group. They were formed randomly three groups of participants each, two of which were given an intervention for two months based on the use of information and communications technology: group 1 received telephone follow more sending text messages, the Group 2 telephone follow more sending emails; and group 3 for the control group received usual nursing intervention in Heart Failure Unit. Results: The use of information and communications technology in patients with heart failure increased adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, compared to the control group that received usual nursing intervention in Heart Failure Unit.

Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities Due to Extensive Usage of Hand Held Devices

OBJECTIVE: The use of hand held devices (HHD) such as mobile phones, game controls, tablets, portable media players and personal digital assistants have increased dramatically in past decade. While sending a text message or using the controls of the HHD the users need to use their thumb and other palm muscles extensively. The objective of this study was to describe the risk factors and clinical features of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) arising due to usage of hand held devices and to evaluate the effectiveness of a sequenced rehabilitation protocol. METHODS: A retrospective report analysis of 70 subjects, who were diagnosed to have a MSD affecting the upper extremities, was conducted. Medical charts from a tertiary level rehabilitation centre from 2005-2013 were analysed. All the subjects reported pain in their upper extremities following extensive usage of HHD and were examined and diagnosed to have a MSD by an orthopaedic and rehabilitation physician. After the assessment and diagnosis, all the patients underwent rehabilitation using a sequenced protocol. RESULTS: All the subjects reported pain in the thumb and forearm with associated burning, numbness and tingling around the thenar aspect of the hand, and stiffness of wrist and hand. 43 subjects had symptoms on the right side; 9 on left and 18 had bilateral symptoms. Correlation was found between hand dominance and MSD. 33 subjects complained of onset of symptoms following extensive text messaging. All the subjects were diagnosed to have tendinosis of Extensor Pollicis Longus and Myofascial Pain Syndrome affecting the 1st interossei, thenar group of muscles and Extensor Digitorum Communis. 23 of the subjects were senior executives, among these 7 were CEO's of major multinational companies in India. All the subjects recovered completely following the rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that mobile phones and gadgets that promoted the predominant usage of thumb or only one finger while texting or using the controls were associated with a higher prevalence of MSDs. Treatment using a sequenced rehabilitation protocol was found to be effective.

The Effectiveness of Short Term Mobile Phone Text Reminders in Improving Compliance among Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND: For the effective management of hypertension, drug adherence and life style modification are important. We investigated the effects of mobile phone text-message reminders on compliance and life style modification in patients with hypertension. METHODS: The study was performed at family medicine outpatient clinics at 15 hospitals in South Korea from July 2008 to June 2010. Study subjects included 1,449 patients who were all prescribed candesartan cilexetil. Patients were randomly divided into two groups- mobile phone text-message reminder group and control group. In the reminder group, contents of text messages were recommendations for antihypertensive adherence, exercise, low salt diet, and reduction of weight and alcohol. In the control group, the date of next visit was sent at 10 week. Mobile phone text-messages were sent at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks by the coordinating center. Thereafter, they were followed up for 12 weeks. Chi-square test was performed to compare compliance and performance indexes of the two groups. RESULTS: The reminder group had 719 (49.6%) patients vs. 730 (50.4%) patients in the control group. Attendance rate were 92.8% for the reminder group and 94.7% for the control group (P=0.14). 94.7% of the reminder group and 94.0% of the control group took their medication regularly (P=0.59). The target blood pressure was attained in 75.8% of the reminder group and 75.4% of the control group (P=0.87). Similarly, rates of weight loss, decreased alcohol use, increased physical activity and a low salt diet showed no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, mobile phone text reminders did not show to have any significant positive effect on the management of hypertension.

Text Message Intervention to Reduce Repeat Self-harm in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department-A Study Protocol.

Aims: To assess the feasibility of using supportive interactive text messages to reduce repeat self-harm, and to reduce the frequency and intensity of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviour in patients discharged from an Emergency Department (ED) after an episode of self-harm. Study Design: Prospective rater blinded randomised trial. Place and Duration of Study: Sample: ED of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Methodology: 100 patients presenting with self-harm to the ED will be randomised to receive treatment as usual plus supportive and interactive text messages for three months or to receive treatment as usual. Patients in both groups will be followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months to ascertain frequency and intensity of thoughts of self-harm and selfharming behaviour. Data will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis using SPSS version 20 for Windows with descriptive statistics, student’s t-test, ANOVA analysis and chi-square tests. Results: We hypothesize that supportive, informative and interactive text messages delivered to patients discharged from an ED after an episode of self-harm will significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of thoughts of self-harm and self-harming behaviour in patients compared with those receiving only follow-up treatment as usual. A secondary hypothesis is that patients receiving the text messages will report an overall satisfaction with the text messaging system. Conclusion: This is a low cost, simple strategy which, if shown to have a significant impact on reducing rates of self-harming thoughts and behaviours in patients who have self-harmed, will allow progress in an area of great clinical importance. Further larger studies could then progress to clarify the potential impact on suicide rates.