Towards an Effective Patient Health Engagement System Using Cloud-Based Text Messaging Technology

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Text messaging (TM) is a common communication method for adolescents and young adults.
• Current TM systems for disease management face limitations like cost, fixed schedules, and limited interaction.
• There is a need for more accessible and personalized patient-provider communication tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess the feasibility of a low-cost, flexible text messaging reporting system (REMOTES) for patient engagement.
• To evaluate REMOTES's usability and effectiveness in adolescents with sickle cell disease.
• To explore the potential of cloud-based TM for personalized patient-provider communication.

Main Methods:

• Developed REMOTES, a cloud-based, template-driven TM system with two-way communication and personalized scheduling.
• Conducted a pilot study with 27 adolescents with sickle cell disease in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Assessed subject compliance, reporting accuracy, and participant satisfaction with the REMOTES system.

Main Results:

• High compliance rates were observed: 94.9% inpatient and 91.1% outpatient for daily pain queries.
• Overall reporting accuracy was high at 99.2%.
• Participant satisfaction was high (89%), with 88% pre-trial expectation.

Conclusions:

• Cloud-based text messaging, as exemplified by REMOTES, is a feasible and user-friendly solution for patient engagement.
• REMOTES provides a low-cost, personalized approach to patient-provider communication, particularly beneficial for managing chronic conditions.
• The system's flexibility and scalability support its adoption in diverse healthcare settings.