Perceptions and Acceptability of Text Messaging for Diabetes Care in Primary Care in Argentina: Exploratory Study

MOYANO, DANIELA; MORELLI, DANIELA; SANTERO, MARILINA; BELIZAN, MARIA; IRAZOLA, VILMA; BERATARRECHEA, ANDREA

JMIR Diabetes

JMIR Publications

Año: 2019 vol. 4

AbstractBackground: Engagement in self-care behaviors that are essential to optimize diabetes care is challenging for many patientswith diabetes. mHealth interventions have been shown to be effective in improving health care outcomes in diabetes. However,more research is needed on patient perceptions to support these interventions, especially in resource settings in low- andmiddle-income countries.Objective: The goal of the research was to explore perceptions and acceptability of a short message service (SMS) text messagingintervention for diabetes care in underserved people with diabetes in Argentina.Methods: A qualitative exploratory methodology was adopted as part of the evaluation of a program to strengthen diabetesservices in primary care clinics located in low-resource settings. The diabetes program included a text messaging interventionfor people with diabetes. A total of 24 semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with people with diabetes.Results: Twenty-four middle-aged persons with diabetes were interviewed. Acceptability was considered adequate in terms ofits actual use, frequency, and the role of texts as a reminder. We found that text messages could be a mediating device in thepatient?s learning processes. Also, being exposed to the texts seemed to help bring about changes in risk perception and carepractices and to function as psychosocial support. Another relevant finding was the role of text messaging as a potential facilitatorin diabetes care. In this sense, we observed a strong association between receiving text messages and having a betterpatient-physician relationship. Additionally, social barriers that affect diabetes care such as socioeconomic and psychosocialvulnerability were identified.Conclusions: Our findings show positive contributions of a text messaging intervention for the care of people with diabetes.We consider that an SMS strategy has potential to be replicated in other contexts. However, further studies are needed to exploreits sustainability and long-term impact from the perspective of patients.