Text Message Reminders for High Blood Pressure

Overseen By Phillip Levy, MD, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Wayne State University

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Children, Cognitive impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1000 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how text message reminders can help people manage high blood pressure. Participants will either receive a text message encouraging them to check their blood pressure or receive no reminders. The trial focuses on individuals with high blood pressure (above 120/80 mmHg) who attend Mobile Health Unit events in Detroit and Cleveland. Those with a phone capable of receiving texts and who meet these conditions might be a good fit. The goal is to improve heart health and reduce premature deaths related to heart conditions in these cities. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance community health management strategies.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on observing patients with high blood pressure rather than changing their current treatment.

What prior data suggests that text message reminders are safe for improving blood pressure management?

Research has shown that text message reminders are a safe and effective method for managing high blood pressure. Studies have found that these reminders help people remember to take their medication on time, leading to better blood pressure control.

In a small study, daily text messages helped participants take their medication more regularly and improved their quality of life. Importantly, no negative effects have been reported from receiving these messages. They are considered a safe and easy way to support health routines.

Overall, using text messages as reminders is a safe method supported by many studies. This simple yet powerful tool helps improve health without adding any medical risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using text message reminders for high blood pressure because this method leverages technology to support patients in managing their health. Unlike traditional treatments that might involve medication or lifestyle changes, this approach focuses on consistent, personalized reminders to help patients remember to take their blood pressure. The ease of integrating text messages into daily life makes this method accessible and non-intrusive, potentially improving adherence to monitoring routines without adding any side effects. This approach could empower patients to take a more active role in their health management, leading to better long-term outcomes.

What evidence suggests that text message reminders are effective for high blood pressure?

This trial will compare the effects of receiving text message reminders versus no reminders for managing high blood pressure. Studies have shown that text message reminders can aid in managing high blood pressure. One review found that regular text messages help people control their blood pressure more effectively. Another study tested an automated text message program that encouraged regular blood pressure checks and showed promising results. Additionally, research indicates that text message reminders improve attendance at hypertension care appointments. Overall, these findings suggest that receiving text reminders could help people control their blood pressure and maintain better health. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Steven J Korzeniewski, PhD

Principal Investigator

Wayne State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with high blood pressure in Detroit, Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio. Participants are being recruited from those attending Wayne Health Mobile Health Unit events to study factors affecting their blood pressure and health outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria

Has a phone with the ability to receive text messages

Consent to allow prospective follow-up including through EHR review

My blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or higher.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not a patient in a mobile health unit.

I am able to understand and sign the informed consent form.

Currently enrolled in another on-going interventional trial initiated on the mobile health unit

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Prospective Observational Cohort

Participants are observed for subsequent health outcomes such as blood pressure levels and cardiometabolic risk factors following MHU participation.

12 months

Regular follow-up visits as per study protocol

Nested Randomized Trial

A sub-cohort is tested for adherence to a blood pressure measurement protocol with and without text message reminders.

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the main observational and interventional phases.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Text Message Reminder

Trial Overview The intervention being tested is the use of text message reminders aimed at improving management of high blood pressure among participants. This is part of a larger effort to reduce cardiometabolic health disparities in the region.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Text Message Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the interventional group will receive a text message reminding them to take their blood pressure.

Group II: Control/No Text Message Active Control 1 Intervention

Those assigned to the usual care group will not receive a reminder text message.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Wayne State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

318

Recruited

111,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 1372 participants with high blood pressure, automated SMS text message support led to a small but significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to usual care, with a mean change of -2.2 mm Hg for information-only messages.

Both information-only and interactive SMS messaging improved the odds of achieving blood pressure control (<140/90 mm Hg) compared to usual care, but the interactive approach did not provide additional benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile Phone Text Messages to Support Treatment Adherence in Adults With High Blood Pressure (SMS-Text Adherence Support [StAR]): A Single-Blind, Randomized Trial. Bobrow, K., Farmer, AJ., Springer, D., et al.[2022]

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different reminder methods (text messages, reminder calls, or both) in increasing the use of service referrals among 300 participants from community outreach programs.

The research will help determine how mobile phone-based interventions can enhance community engagement and service utilization, potentially guiding future reminder protocols for similar programs across the country.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Research Protocol to Test the Effectiveness of Text Messaging and Reminder Calls to Increase Service Use Referrals in a Community Engagement Program. Varma, DS., Hart, M., McIntyre, DS., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8495578/

Effectiveness of Text Messaging Interventions on Blood ... This review found that a text messaging intervention was effective in BP control. One-way text messaging delivered in a weekly manner was suggested to be ...

2. ldi.upenn.edu ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/automated-text-messaging-for-hypertension-gets-high-ratings-and-shows-why-randomized-controlled-trials-are-important/

Text Messaging for Hypertension Gets High Ratings - Penn LDI Our trial tested the feasibility and effectiveness of BP Pal, an automated, text message-based program to make intensive hypertension monitoring ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01255436

Effectiveness of SMS Text Reminders to Improve Blood ... Objective: To test the primary hypothesis that SMS text messages delivered to patients via mobile phone can improve blood pressure within 12 weeks compared ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41371-024-00942-1

Text messaging to improve retention in hypertension care ... This study demonstrates that the use of text message reminders can improve clinic attendance for hypertension care in Bangladesh. Among regular ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10840260/

The effectiveness of short mobile phone text message ... This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of short mobile phone text message reminders versus usual/standard care for medication adherence in ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10500631/

TEXT MY BP MEDS NOLA: A pilot study of text-messaging ... This study assesses the benefits of SMBP with daily text message reminders on medication adherence, quality of life, and blood pressure lowering.

7. michiganmedicine.org michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/text-message-alerts-help-patients-hypertension-remember-take-meds

Text Message Medication Reminders Help Patients with ... Learn more about a new study that showed mobile reminders boosted medication adherence in high blood pressure patients.

8. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.120.007015

Text Message Medication Adherence Reminders ... This study shows that we can identify patients with poor cardiovascular medication refill habits at 2 major hospital systems through daily refill data updates.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782918300022

Using text message reminders in health care services Text messages appear to be an effective reminder mechanism to promote improved patient appointment and medical compliance.