Mobile Phone Text Messaging and Telephone Follow-Up in Iranian Type ۲ Diabetic Patients for ۳ Months: A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of two methods of follow-up: Short Message Service (SMS) versus telephone call on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA۱c) in type ۲ diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This semi-experimental study consisted of ۷۷ patients with type ۲ diabetes who were randomly assigned into two groups: telephone follow-up (n = ۳۹) and Short Message Service (n = ۳۸). Telephone interventions were applied by researchers for ۳ months. SMS group received message daily for ۱۲ weeks. Data were collected using data sheet to record HbA۱c and a questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics. Data gathering was performed at two points: at the baseline of the study and after ۱۲ weeks. Data were analyzed by SPSS ۱۱.۵ using descriptive and inferential statistics methods. RESULTS: Demographic variables were confirmed to be homogenous. The results of this study showed that both interventions had significant mean changes in HbA۱c for the telephone group (P = ۰.۰۰۱) with a mean change of -۰.۹۳% and for the SMS group (P = ۰.۰۰۱) with a mean change of -۱.۰۱%. CONCLUSION: The findings of this research showed that intervention using SMS via mobile phone and nurse-led-telephone follow-up improves HbA۱c for three months in type ۲ diabetic patients and it can be considered as an alternative method for diabetes control.

Keywords:

Glycosylated hemoglobin , Cellular phone , Short Message Service , Type ۲ diabetes mellitus , Telephone follow-up.