Text messaging to promote health

Douglas and Free’s qualitative study1 alongside a randomised controlled trial2 show that text messaging offers a valuable way of supporting people trying to give up smoking. Text messages may also have wider potential in health promotion, including within sexual health.

In September 2013 we carried out a patient and public involvement user group to investigate what female genitourinary medicine clinic attendees thought about texts encouraging regular STI checks, use of long acting reversible contraception (LARC) and HIV testing. These three topics were chosen in response to the 2013 Framework for Sexual Health Improvement, which highlights sexually transmitted infections (STIs), teenage pregnancies and late diagnosis of HIV as major public health problems.3

Consecutive women aged 16–24 years attending the Courtyard Sexual Health Clinic at St George’s NHS Trust, London were invited to complete a confidential, anonymous questionnaire and to express opinions. The response rate was 100% (30/30), and the mean age of participants was 20 years (range 16–24 years).

Text 1: ‘Time for your check-up? Please telephone …’ 27/30 (90%) thought this reminder a good idea, and 23/30 (77%) said they would book a check-up.

Text 2: ‘Have you thought about trying a contraceptive implant or coil so you don’t have to keep remembering? Ask when you go for your check-up.’ 23/30 (77%) were happy to receive this, and 20/30 (67%) would ask about LARC.

Text 3: ‘Have you thought about HIV testing … ? Ask when you have your check-up.’ 25/30 (83%) liked this reminder, and 24/30 (80%) would ask about HIV testing at their next check-up.

Comments included: ‘A really good idea and could help a lot of women.’ ‘Very straight and to the point.’ ‘Young girls don’t think about this so it’s good to give them awareness.’ Overall there was a positive response to receiving all three texts, and over two-thirds of responders said they would act on them.

We agree with Douglas and Free1 that it is important for healthcare professionals to understand patient experiences of a text messaging service. User groups can also be helpful. Text messages are increasingly used for appointment reminders in primary care and could have potential as key health promotion tools in the future.

• © British Journal of General Practice 2014