Using email and text messaging to improve patient compliance with blood monitoring

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease may need immunosuppressant therapy. This involves frequent blood tests to ensure results are within safe limits.

To investigate whether the use of email and text messaging to remind patients to have blood tests might result in better compliance than using more conventional methods of communication.

Patients were divided into three groups by self-selection: one wanted email reminders; one wanted texts; while a control group received telephone calls and letters. Data on the delays was analysed.

In all groups receiving email, text messages or traditional phone call reminders, delays were reduced. Patients in the email/text messaging groups overwhelmingly found these methods helpful and wished them to continue.

The use of email and text messaging helped to reduce delays in monitoring and patients who selected these methods found it helpful. We aim to continue this service.