Text Messaging Effect on Adherence in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Digital Health Interventions
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Adherence to medication is crucial for successful inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment.
• Nonadherence in pediatric IBD patients leads to increased relapses, morbidity, and healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a text messaging (TM) intervention in improving medication adherence among pediatric patients with IBD.
• To assess the impact of TM reminders on treatment compliance and disease management in children with IBD.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 51 pediatric IBD patients receiving oral medication.
• Intervention group received 2-way TM reminders, alerts for missed doses, and weekly compliance reports.
• Adherence was measured using the Morisky questionnaire at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• The TM intervention group showed a significant improvement in Morisky scores at 6 months (P=.0131).
• While the TM group demonstrated improved adherence, the control group did not show significant changes.
• Baseline characteristics were similar between the TM and control groups, ensuring comparability.

Conclusions:

• Text messaging (TM) interventions show promise in enhancing medication adherence for pediatric patients with IBD.
• Further large-scale, multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings and confirm the long-term efficacy of TM for IBD management.