Texting improves medication adherence in teens with diabetes

Here are some snippets from a story recently published on Healthcare IT News:

Texting improves medication adherence in teens with diabetes

COLUMBUS, OH – A small pilot study at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found that sending text reminders to adolescent diabetes patients about their insulin treatments improved treatment adherence and blood glucose levels.Recognizing that text messaging was the primary mode of communication for her patients, Jennifer Dyer, MD, MPH, an endocrinologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital, developed the idea for the pilot as a way to help remind her teenage patients to take their insulin treatments.

Studies have shown that adolescent patients have a greater difficulty adhering to treatment and medication activities than adults. Thus, there is a significant correlation between increased independence and decreased treatment adherence in adolescents. The rate of medication non-adherence among adolescent recipients is approximately four times higher than that among adult recipients.

You can follow Dr. Dyer on Twitter @endogoddess

Here's a little video titled, "Pilot Study Supports Adolescent Diabetes Patients through Personalized Text Messages."