Effectiveness of Short Message Service (SMS) based Glycaemic Control

Maria Tariq; Shazia Nisar; Ayesha Anwer; Ahtesham Ellahi; Muhammad Shahid Khan; Muhammad Zahid Hussain

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v72i6.6270

Authors

Maria Tariq Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Shazia Nisar Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Ayesha Anwer Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Ahtesham Ellahi Khaleej Diagnostics Center, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Shahid Khan Heavy Industries Taxila Education City Institute of Medical Sciences, Texila/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Muhammad Zahid Hussain Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v72i6.6270

Keywords:

Diabetes, Glycaemic control, HbA1c, Non-communicable diseases (NCD), Short message service (SMS)

Abstract

Objective: To find out the effectiveness of short message service (SMS) on glycaemic control among patients with diabetes at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Endocrinology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jul 2020.

Methodology: A total of 218 patients with diabetes were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups by lottery method. Group-A received a tailored SMS package daily for six months along with printed dietary instructions, while Group-B was given only printed dietary instructions. After six months, HbA1c levels and other sociodemographic factors were compared among the two Groups A and B.

Results: In Group-A (SMS-Group) mean HbA1c levels reduced from 9.3±2.0 to 7.0±0.4 compared to Group-B (non-SMSGroup) with mean HbA1c levels from 9.7±1.8 to 8.8 ±1.4. Before SMS intervention, all variables, including HbA1c levels between the two groups, were insignificant. However, the use of structured SMS-based intervention in Group-A showed a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to Group-B (p-value <0.05). The mean difference was 1.77(95% CI:-2.44 to -1.10).

Conclusion: This study showed Short Message Service (SMS) effectiveness by significantly reducing glycaemic levels (HbA1c)among people with diabetes compared to conventional methods of diabetic education for glycaemic control.