@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.6439,
author="Agboola, Stephen
and Jethwani, Kamal
and Lopez, Lenny
and Searl, Meghan
and O'Keefe, Sandra
and Kvedar, Joseph",
title="Text to Move: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Text-Messaging Program to Improve Physical Activity Behaviors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2016",
month="Nov",
day="18",
volume="18",
number="11",
pages="e307",
keywords="type 2 diabetes; text messaging; mobile phones; physical activity; engagement; pedometers",
abstract="Background: Text messages are increasingly being used because of the low cost and the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones to engage patients in self-care behaviors. Self-care is particularly important in achieving treatment outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective: This study examined the effect of personalized text messages on physical activity, as measured by a pedometer, and clinical outcomes in a diverse population of patients with T2DM. Methods: Text to Move (TTM) incorporates physical activity monitoring and coaching to provide automated and personalized text messages to help patients with T2DM achieve their physical activity goals. A total of 126 English- or Spanish-speaking patients with glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7 were enrolled in-person to participate in the study for 6 months and were randomized into either the intervention arm that received the full complement of the intervention or a control arm that received only pedometers. The primary outcome was change in physical activity. We also assessed the effect of the intervention on HbA1c, weight, and participant engagement. Results: All participants (intervention: n=64; control: n=62) were included in the analyses. The intervention group had significantly higher monthly step counts in the third (risk ratio [RR] 4.89, 95{\%} CI 1.20 to 19.92, P=.03) and fourth (RR 6.88, 95{\%} CI 1.21 to 39.00, P=.03) months of the study compared to the control group. However, over the 6-month follow-up period, monthly step counts did not differ statistically by group (intervention group: 9092 steps; control group: 3722 steps; RR 2.44, 95{\%} CI 0.68 to 8.74, P=.17). HbA1c decreased by 0.07{\%} (95{\%} CI --0.47 to 0.34, P=.75) in the TTM group compared to the control group. Within groups, HbA1c decreased significantly from baseline in the TTM group by --0.43{\%} (95{\%} CI --0.75 to --0.12, P=.01), but nonsignificantly in the control group by --0.21{\%} (95{\%} CI --0.49 to 0.06, P=.13). Similar changes were observed for other secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Personalized text messaging can be used to improve outcomes in patients with T2DM by employing optimal patient engagement measures. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.6439",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2016/11/e307/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6439",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27864165"
}