Impact of Short Message System Education on Blood Sugar Control and Treatment Adherence in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors:   Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran., Roozbehani Reza , Fatemi Amir Ali ,   Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran., Zamani Zahra ,   Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran., Khedri Behzad ,   Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Studies, Hanze University of Applied Science, Groningen, Netherlands., Arefkia Kolsoom ,   Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran., Kabusi Malihe ,   Department of Geriatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran., Shafiei Zahra ,   Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran., Razavinasab Seyed Ali ,   Department of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran., Ilaghinezhad Bardsiri Tayebeh ,   Department of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran., Eshaghzadeh Maliheh ,   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran., Hosseini Foladi Shiva ,   Heath Management and Economic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran., Ivanbagha Reyhaneh ,   Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Published: March 2023

Objectives: Considering the need of diabetic patients for accessing the care system and the role of modern media in health education and culture, we aimed to determine the effectiveness of educating via mobile SMS in controlling blood sugar. Moreover, the adherence to drug treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes was assessed. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Isfahan City, Iran in 2018. A total of 100 diabetic patients participated in the case (intervention) and control groups. The control group underwent conventional therapies and training. SMS training was applied for the intervention group in addition to the conventional therapies. Collecting the information and data to assess adherence to patients’ treatment was done using a researcher-made 18-item questionnaire. Analyzing data was performed in SPSS software, version 20 through the employment of the independent t test, paired t test, and multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: Based on the independent t test results, no significant difference was detected between the two study groups at any time points (P>0.05) in terms of the mean fasting blood sugar. However, by analysis of covariance and adjusting the fasting blood sugar level before the intervention in the studied groups, the mean fasting blood sugar was recognized to be significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group in the second month (P=0.048) and the third month after the intervention (P=0.008). Discussion: There is an association between SMS education and fasting blood sugar control and adherence to treatment in the studied patients. In the field of health care education, it is possible to use patient communication techniques and short message services to control follow-up and monitor interventions.