Impact of personalized text messages from pharmacists on medication adherence in type 2 diabetes in France: A real-world, randomized, comparative study

Abstract

ObjectiveA real-world, randomized study assessing the impact of a new, personalized, pharmacist-led text messaging service for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D). MethodsMessages were tailored to patient’s needs based on their disease management habits, propensity for reactance, and physical activity levels at baseline. Treatment adherence (assed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, MMAS-8, questionnaire), clinical factors (body mass index and physical activity) and biological markers for T2D were compared between patients who received a text message daily for 3 months in addition to standard care (SMS group) and those who received standard care alone (control group). Results114 pharmacies recruited 499 patients. Greater increases in global MMAS-8 scores were observed after 3 months for the SMS group than for the control group, however, this improvement was not sustained after the text messages stopped. Body mass index was found to improve with the text messaging service. ConclusionThis study indicated that personalized text messages provided by community pharmacists can have an impact on adherence levels among T2D patients. Practice implicationsPharmacy-led innovations, such as text messaging services, could be used to accompany patients in their treatment and to improve patient understanding of their illness between healthcare appointments.