Text messaging helps improve eczema treatment results

Text messaging helps patients adhere better to treatment. Source: Gunnar Bothner-By

Doctors have a new tool for improving patient outcomes in treatments for eczema and other skin diseases: text messaging.

Research by the Center for Connected Health has found that text messages are effective at reminding people to apply or take the medications, which results in more effective treatment.

They are also useful for educating people about their condition, so they can make better decisions and actions regarding their treatment.

The trial was conducted on 25 individuals aged 14 and up who all suffered from a type of eczema called atopic dermatitis.

The patients all received text messages reminding them to use and keep using their medications. There were also messages containing educational information.

While there was no control group, the participants were interviewed at the start of the trial, and 92 percent of them reported forgetting to use their medications, while 88 percent said they stopped treatment when the symptoms improved.

After the six-week study, 72 percent reported that they adhered better to their treatment, and 76 percent saw an improvement in their condition.

The Center’s director Joseph Kvedar, MD, says, “Text messaging is a cost-effective way to deliver short, concise information to patients over a longer period of time, and because it is automated, requires no extra effort from the provider.

“Our study also indicates that patients are willing and ready to integrate technology, such as text messaging, into their care. It can also help to improve communication between patients and providers.”

After the study, 88 percent of the participants reported that they found the text message reminders helpful.

The study is published in Dermatology Research and Practice, vol. 2010.

Atopic dermatitis is a common skin disease, accounting for 30 percent of dermatology visits. Patient adherence to self-care treatment procedures is historically low.

Posted by AWright on 29 Sep 2010. Filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry