Short Message Service (SMS) Text Messages in Health Care
Farmer A., French D., Bartlett K.
Short messaging service (SMS) messages or text messages have the potential for high reach at low cost. Using SMS presents an opportunity to deliver health-related information, reminders, and support that provides self-management directly to individuals in a way other mediums cannot. SMS messages are already successfully used as appointment and medication refill reminders. Further research utilizing extant behavioral science knowledge to develop message content could present an opportunity to use SMS to improve broader self-management of diabetes. Machine learning and artificial intelligence could be used to tailor content and identify which populations would derive the most benefit in which contexts.