(Press-News.org) Contact information: Beata Mostafavi
bmostafa@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
Texting may be good for your health
Txt4health program piloted in Detroit and Cincinnati motivated people to change behavior to reduce diabetes risk but less than half of enrollees stuck with service
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — New University of Michigan research says that a simple tool right in your back pocket may help decrease your risk for type 2 diabetes: Text messages on your phone.
An overwhelming majority of surveyed people who enrolled in customized texting service txt4health piloted in Detroit and Cincinnati last year said the free mobile education program made them more aware of their diabetes risk and more likely to make diet-related behavior changes and lose weight. The service was also launched in New Orleans but those participants were not included in the study.
While the program seemed to work well for those who completed it, only 39 percent stuck through all 14 weeks. The findings appear in two new studies published online in the Journal of Medical Internet Research today.
"We found that this method of health intervention had potential to significantly influence people's health habits and have great reach – however, sustained participant engagement across the 14 weeks was lower than desired," says lead author of both studies Lorraine R. Buis, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the U-M Medical School.
"It's clear that a text message program may not be appropriate for everyone; however, for a large subset of people, this may be a feasible, acceptable, and useful strategy to motivate positive behavior changes."
Most participants reported that after completing the program, they were more likely to replace sugary drinks with water (78 percent), have a piece of fresh fruit instead of dessert (74 percent), substitute a small salad for chips or fries when dining out (76 percent), buy healthier foods when grocery shopping (80 percent), and eat more grilled, baked, or broiled foods instead of fried (76 percent).
The majority of survey respondents also reported that text messages were easy to understand (100 percent), that the program made them knowledgeable of their risk for developing type 2 diabetes (88 percent) and more aware of their dietary and physical activity habits (89 percent). Eighty-eight percent also said they enjoyed participating in the program.
The txt4health initiative is a large, public health focused text message-based program that aims to raise type 2 diabetes risk awareness, as well as facilitate weekly weight and physical activity self-monitoring to lower diabetes risk. Both pilots were supported by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In Detroit, the program was by the Southeast Michigan Beacon Community and Cincinnati's program was led by the Greater Cincinnati Beacon Collaborative. The groups launched txt4health as part of each city's campaign to educate the public about diabetes and prevention.
Researchers enrolled 1,838 participants in the program who were asked to answer background questions in order to get personalized health tips and recommendations over 14 weeks. Overall, roughly 74 percent of participants completed the diabetes risk assessment, 89 percent tracked their weight and 55 percent reported their physical activity at least once during the program.
"Text message programs may be a useful tool when used as a component in a broad-based public health campaign," Buis says. "However, sole reliance on this strategy may be cautioned when targeting a general population because the level of individual engagement widely varies.
"We need to further explore ways to improve retention rates among participants."
###
Additional Authors: Lindsey Hirzel, M.A., of Wayne State University; Scott A. Turske, B.A. and Terrisca R. Des Jardins, M.H.S.A, of the Southeast Michigan Beacon Community; Hossein Yarandi, Ph.D., of Wayne State University; and Patricia Bondurant, D.N.P., R.N., of the Greater Cincinnati Beacon Collaborative
Disclosures: None
Funding: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (Cooperative Agreements #90BC0017 and #90BC0016)
Reference: "Use of a Text Message Program to Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk Awareness and Promote Health Behavior Change (Part I): Assessment of Participant Reach and Adoption," J Med Internet Res 2013: doi:10.2196/jmir.2928
"Use of a Text Message Program to Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk Awareness and Promote Health Behavior Change (Part II): Assessment of Participants' Perceptions on Efficacy," J Med Internet Res 2013: doi:10.2196/jmir.2929
Texting may be good for your health
Txt4health program piloted in Detroit and Cincinnati motivated people to change behavior to reduce diabetes risk but less than half of enrollees stuck with service
2013-12-19
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Brain repair after injury and Alzheimer's disease
2013-12-19
Brain repair after injury and Alzheimer's disease
Technology developed to regenerate functional neurons (In vivo reprogramming of reactive glial cells into functional neurons)
Researchers at Penn State University have developed an innovative technology to regenerate functional ...
Research linking autism symptoms to gut microbes called 'groundbreaking'
2013-12-19
Research linking autism symptoms to gut microbes called 'groundbreaking'
A new study showing that feeding mice a beneficial type of bacteria can ameliorate autism-like symptoms is "groundbreaking," according to University of Colorado Boulder Professor ...
Modern caterpillars feed at higher temperatures in response to climate change
2013-12-19
Modern caterpillars feed at higher temperatures in response to climate change
Caterpillars of two species of butterflies in Colorado and California have evolved to feed rapidly at higher and at a broader range of temperatures in the past 40 ...
Healthier Happy Meals
2013-12-19
Healthier Happy Meals
Small changes to familiar combo meals can help cut calorie consumption
What would happen if a fast-food restaurant reduces the calories in a children's meal by 104 calories, mainly by decreasing the portion size of French fries? Would children ...
Renegades of cell biology: Why K-Ras gene mutations prove so deadly in cancer
2013-12-19
Renegades of cell biology: Why K-Ras gene mutations prove so deadly in cancer
SALT LAKE CITY—Cells with a mutation in the gene called K-Ras—found in close to 30 percent of all cancers, but mostly those with worst prognosis, such as pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and lung ...
Researchers find a cause of aging that can be reversed
2013-12-19
Researchers find a cause of aging that can be reversed
Medical researchers have found a cause of ageing in animals that can be reversed, possibly paving the way for new treatments for age-related diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, muscle ...
Anti-epilepsy drugs can cause inflammations
2013-12-19
Anti-epilepsy drugs can cause inflammations
RUB physicians investigate how various substances affect glial cells
Physicians at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have been investigating if established anti-epilepsy drugs have anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory ...
Emotions in Parkinson's disease
2013-12-19
Emotions in Parkinson's disease
Is it the disease itself or the treatment that impairs the perception of emotions?
Patients affected by Parkinson's disease may experience, in addition to the more obvious motor symptoms (such as tremors ...
Evolution of plumage patterns in male and female birds
2013-12-19
Evolution of plumage patterns in male and female birds
Ducks, geese and swans are waterfowl, an order known to scientists as Anseriformes. Hens, pheasants, partridges and turkeys are game-birds (Galliformes). Both orders are famous not just for their flesh ...
Availability of food increases as countries' dependence on food trade grows
2013-12-19
Availability of food increases as countries' dependence on food trade grows
The figures come out in a study made at Aalto University in Finland examining developments in food availability and food self-sufficiency in 1965. Researchers of Aalto University examined ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Researchers improve chemical reaction that underpins products from foods to fuels
Texas Tech to develop semiconductor power devices through $6 million grant
Novel genomic screening tool enables precision reverse-engineering of genetic programming in cells
Hot Schrödinger cat states created
How cells repair their power plants
Oxygen is running low in inland waters—and humans are to blame
ACP’s Best Practice Advice addresses use of cannabis, cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain
Beyond photorespiration: A systematic approach to unlocking enhanced plant productivity
How a small number of mutations can fuel outbreaks of western equine encephalitis virus
Exposure to wildfire smoke linked with worsening mental health conditions
Research uncovers hidden spread of one of the most common hospital-associated infections
Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?
Fine particulate matter from 2020 California wildfires and mental health–related emergency department visits
Gender inequity in institutional leadership roles in US academic medical centers
Pancreatic cells ‘remember’ epigenetic precancerous marks without genetic sequence mutations
Rare combination of ovarian tumors found in one patient
AI-driven clinical recommendations may aid physician decision making to improve quality of care
Artificial intelligence has potential to aid physician decisions during virtual urgent care
ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine present breaking scientific news at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2025
New study reveals polymers with flawed fillers boost heat transfer in plastics
Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people
Discovery of bacteria's defence against viruses becomes a piece of the puzzle against resistance
Pre-eclampsia is associated with earlier onset and higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors
Warwick astronomers discover doomed pair of spiralling stars on our cosmic doorstep
Soil conditions significantly increase rainfall in world’s megastorm hotspots
NK cells complexed with bispecific antibody yield high response rates in patients with lymphoma
Planetary health diet and mediterranean diet associated with similar survival and sustainability benefits
Singapore launches national standard to validate antimicrobial disinfectant products
Molecular stool test could improve detection of tuberculosis in adults with HIV
Suspected fibrocartilaginous embolus in Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)
[Press-News.org] Texting may be good for your healthTxt4health program piloted in Detroit and Cincinnati motivated people to change behavior to reduce diabetes risk but less than half of enrollees stuck with service