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Published on: March 7, 2019
The Effects of Text Messages for Promoting Physical Activities in Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Prawit Bootwong1, Nirun Intarut2
1Health System Science Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Muang, Mahasarakham, Thailand.
Insights
Text messages significantly increased physical activity energy in prediabetes patients at 8 weeks. However, this effect was not sustained at 12 weeks, indicating a need for further research on optimal messaging strategies.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Trials
- Public Health Interventions
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Prediabetes is a growing public health concern, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Lifestyle modifications, particularly increased physical activity, are crucial for managing prediabetes.
- Mobile health interventions offer a scalable approach to promote behavior change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of text message interventions in promoting physical activity among individuals with prediabetes.
- To assess the impact of text messages on physical activity energy and related health markers.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 324 participants with prediabetes recruited from a primary care unit.
- Participants received physical activity education; the intervention group also received supportive text messages.
- Outcome measures, including physical activity energy, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure, were assessed at baseline, 8, and 12 weeks.
Main Results:
- At 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant increase in physical activity energy (1,590.73 METs/min/week) compared to the control group.
- This significant difference in physical activity energy was not observed at the 12-week follow-up.
- Moderate physical activity energy significantly increased by 256.40 METs/min/week in the intervention group at 12 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Text message interventions can effectively boost physical activity in individuals with prediabetes in the short term (8 weeks).
- The positive effects on overall physical activity energy were not sustained at 12 weeks.
- Further research is warranted to determine optimal text message timing and content for sustained physical activity promotion in this population.
Abstract:
Objective: To test the effects of text messages for promoting physical activities in people with prediabetes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in participants with prediabetes. Participants were recruited from a primary care unit. Allocation to the study groups used a stratified block randomization. All participants received physical activity education at baseline. The intervention group additionally received supportive text messages by using mobile phone text messages. Participants were assessed at baseline at 8 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was physical activity energy. Secondary outcomes included weight, body mass index, waist circumstance, and blood pressure. Results: All participants were included in the analyses (n = 324; control: n = 162; intervention: n = 162). Mean physical activity energy was significantly increased in those who received text messages at 8 weeks, increasing 1,590.73 Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (METs)/min/week (95% confidence interval [CI]: 837.72, 2343.75) in the intervention group and 407.39 METs/min/weeks (95% CI: -267.59, 1082.36) in the control group with an adjusted mean difference of -1,183 METs/min/weeks (95% CI: -2190.11, -176.58, p = 0.02). Over the 12 weeks follow-up period, mean physical activity energy did not differ statistically by group. Mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of the total physical energy revealed no significant differences, with an adjusted mean difference 273.3 METs/min/week (95% CI: -530.64, 1077.21, p = 0.513). However, moderate physical energy was significantly increased to 256.40 METs/min/week (95% CI: 17.20, 495.63, p = 0.040). Conclusion: Text messaging significant in physical activity at the 8-week. But, text messaging no significant in physical activity at 12-week. Further research is needed to identify optimal times to send messages to people with prediabetes. Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR), number: TCTR20200624008.
