Text messaging to improve connection between adolescents and their health care providers

Adolescence marks a time of transition where teenagers are learning to advocate for themselves. In those with underlying chronic conditions such as adolescent dysautonomia, improving communication between clinic visits may improve connection with their health care provider which may aide management. Our aims were as follows: (1) to implement a text message platform to increase communication between adolescent patients and health care provider (HCP); (2) to evaluate its effect on quality of life (QoL), symptom burden, and patient engagement; and (3) to determine patient satisfaction with the platform.

Participants (age 12-18) with access to a personal mobile phone were recruited from a pediatric dysautonomia clinic. A weekly automated text message asking "How are you?" was sent to participants (WelTel Inc.). Responses were triaged to HCP and responded to within 48 hours.

Twenty-six participants with median (interquartile range) age of 16.8 (15.7-17.4) years completed the study. Duration of the text messaging intervention was 33 (26.8-37.3) weeks. A total of 896 automated weekly messages were sent, which resulted in 206 (23%) care conversations. Participants found texting useful (96%) and produced feelings of connection to their HCP (92%). There was no change in overall QoL or symptom burden (p > 0.05).

A text message platform was successfully implemented in adolescents seen in our Dysautonomia Clinic. Patients were engaged, satisfied with the platform, and felt connected to their HCP despite no changes in QoL or symptom burden.