Text Messaging Medication Reminders Significantly Reduces Organ Rejection in Pediatric Liver Transplant ...(hild. These results should be of interes...),Health

Date:6/4/2009

hild. These results should be of interest to health-care professionals and policy makers, as it may reduce the morbidity, mortality and the utilization of financial and human resources associated with liver transplantation. Text messaging is a behavioral support intervention that can be incorporated into routine clinic care, personalized and adapted to suit other chronic disease and age groups." said Dr. Miloh.

The study included 41 patients between the ages of 1 and 27 years old (median age 15) who were taking anywhere from 1 to 3 specific medications to suppress the immune system daily. The medication was either self-administered or by the parent/caregiver.

Patients or their parents/caregivers received a text message when it was time for the patient to take their medication. In the case of older patients that possessed their own cell phone, the text messages were sent to the patient directly. If the patient didn't confirm via a return text message medication intake within a pre-determined amount of time (e.g. 30 minutes), a follow up message was sent to the parent/caregiver alerting them that patient potentially didn't take medication. The caregiver message included the patients' cell phone number allowing for immediate dialing.

After the 12-month period of the study, compared to the previous 12-month period prior to the study, this group of patients showed significant improvement in medication adherence (evident in stable, on target blood levels of the medication). This resulted in significantly lower number of organ rejection episodes in this group; 12 cases in the year before the study and only 2 during the study year. Organ rejection usually requires immediate hospitalization and treatment lasting on average anywhere from 6 to 10 days, or in extreme cases a re-transplant. In addition to the significantly negative impact on the patients overall health, it poses a significant cost to the hospital and health insurance provider. '/>"/>

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