Table 1 Characteristics of included studies (number of studies = 35)
First author, year | Interv. period | N | Country | One-way or two-way SMS | Setting | Intervention | Frequency | Comparison | Participants | Follow-up | Outcome results | Reported effect measure from the study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barnabas 2016 [40] | June 2013–Mar 2015 | 750 | South Africa and Uganda | One-way | Rural clinic | Promotional text sent after HIV testing to encourage circumcision | One text 3 weeks after testing + 1 phone call 1 month after | Standard clinic referral | Men 16–49 years HIV-negative and uncircumcised | 3 months | Uptake of circumcision: proportion being circumcised | RR 1.72 (1.36–2.17) |
Bigna 2014 [41] | Jan and May, 2013 | 121 | Cameroon | One-way | Urban (Essos), semi-urban (Kousseri), and rural (Goulfey) hospitals | SMS reminder | 2 days prior to appointment | No SMS | Adults ≤ 18 years accompanying an HIV-positive child ≥ 15 years | Unknown | Appointment adherence: proportion attending | OR 2.9 (1.3–6.3) |
da Costa 2012 [42] | 2008–2009 | 21 | Brazil | One-way | Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Federal University of São Paulo | SMS reminder 30 min before their last scheduled dose of medicine | Every 2 days | No SMS | HIV-positive Brazilian women | 4 months | Medication adherence: MEMS ≤ 95% adherence | NR |
Davey 2016 [43] | Nov 2011–Mar 2013 | 830 | Mozambique | One-way | One rural and two urban public health clinic | SMS reminders | 2 and 7 days prior to appointment | Standard care | Adults ≤ 18 years receiving first-line ART, for over 15 days | 12 months | Appointment adherence: proportion attending | RR 0.68 (0.41–1.13) |
de Tolly 2012 [44] | Unknown | 2553 | South Africa | One-way | General population | 3–10 motivational or informative SMS messages | Every 3 days | No SMS | Subscribers of a mobile phone service | 3 weeks | Uptake of testing: proportion tested for HIV | OR 1.09 (0.83–1.34) |
Downing 2013 [74] | Jan 2010–Mar 2011 | 94 | Australia | One-way | Sexual health clinic | SMS reminder | 1 week prior to test of cure | Standard care | Chlamydia + or named as a contact to someone diagnosed with chlamydia | 3–4 months | Uptake of testing: proportion who underwent test of cure | OR 5.87 (1.16–29.83) |
Dryden-Peterson 2015 [45] | July 2011–April 2012, | 366 | Botswana | One-way | 20 antenatal clinics | Automated platform permitting monitoring and delivery of CD4 results via text | Clinic receipt of results was confirmed centrally via SMS | Standard care | Women with a CD4 count of 250 cells/μL or less were eligible for ART | 8 weeks | Uptake of testing: CD4 testing before 26 weeks gestation ART initiation: before 30 weeks gestation | CD4 testing: aOR 0.87 (0.47–1.63) ART initiation: aOR 1.06 (0.53–2.13) |
Garofalo 2016 [46] | Oct 2010–Feb 2014 | 105 | USA | Two-way | Research facilities | SMS reminder | Daily for 6 months | No SMS | Poorly-adherent HIV-positive adolescents (aged 16–29) | 6 months | Medication adherence: self-reported VAS of 90% adherence Viral load suppression: (< 75 copies/ml) | Adherence: OR 2.12 (1.01–4.45) Viral load suppression: OR 0.77 (0.24–2.49) |
Haberer 2016 [47] | Sept 2013-June 2015 | 63 | Uganda | One-way | Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital | Reminder scheduled SMS or triggered SMS | Daily for 1 month then weekly for 2 months | No SMS | HIV-positive individuals taking ART | 3 months | Medication adherence: MEMS adherence 100% Viral load suppression: (< 100 copies/ml) | Adherence: IRR 0.6 Viral load suppression: IRR 1.0 |
Hardy 2011 [48] | Aug 2008–Dec 2008 | 23 | USA | Two-way | Outpatient HIV clinic in Boston | SMS reminders | Daily | One reminder beep at the time of dosing | HIV-positive adults on ART for at least 3 months and reporting less than 85% adherence in past 7 days | 6 weeks | Medication Adherence: MEMS at 6 weeks (% not defined) | Adherence (mean difference + [SD]): 33.4 + 9.1 |
Ignersoll 2015 [49] | May 2012-Aug 2013 | 63 | USA | Two-way | Rural HIV clinic in Virginia | SMS system sent a query, received a response from the participant | Daily: 4 per day | Usual care | HIV-positive adults who reported less than 95% adherence in the past 2 weeks | 3 months | Medication adherence: pharmacy refill ≤ 95% adherence Appointment adherence: proportion of missed visits | NR |
Kalichman 2016 [50] | Aug 2011–Mar 2015 | 600 | USA | One-way | Infectious disease clinics in Atlanta | SMS reminders for up to 2 daily medication times | Daily: 2 times per day | No SMS | Adults aged 18 or older, on ART | 12 months | Medication adherence: medication refill ≤ 95% adherence Viral load suppression: (< 100 copies/ml) | Adherence reported as not significant Viral load suppression: OR 1.24 (1.01–1.52) |
Kempe 2016 [51] | Jan 2013–Dec 2013 | 701 | USA | One-way | Pediatric practices in Colorado | Recalling adolescents who were late for HPV doses | Not specified | Standard care | Parents of adolescents aged 11 and 17 | Unknown | HPV vaccine series completion: HPV dose 3 completion rates | Vaccine series completion: IRR 1.47 (1.38–1.57) |
Lester 2010 [52] | May 2007–Oct 2008 | 538 | Kenya | Two-way | HIV clinic | SMS received from a clinic nurse and response required within 48 h | Weekly | No SMS | Patients initiating ART | 12 months | Medication adherence: self-reported ≤ 95% adherence Viral load suppression: (< 400 copies/ml) | Adherence: RR 0.85 (0.72–0.99) Viral load did not achieve suppression level: RR 0·84 (0·71–0·99) |
Lim 2012 [53] | Jan 2006–Jan 2007 | 994 | Australia and New Zealand | One-way | Music festival | SMS sexual health promotion messages | Every 3–4 weeks | No SMS | Aged between 16 and 29, and were current residents of Victoria or Tasmania and had a mobile phone number | 6 and 12 months | Sexual health behaviour change: Always condom use at 6 months, knowledge of STIs at 6 months Uptake of testing: STI testing at 6 months | Condom use: F: OR 1.34 (0.58–3.09) M: OR 0.97 (0.35–2.66) Knowledge of STIs/HIV: F: OR 2.36 (1.27–4.37) M: OR 3.19 (1.52–6.69) Uptake of testing: F: OR 2.51 (1.11–5.69) M: OR 0.79 (0.22–2.89) |
Maduka 2013 [54] | 2011 | 104 | Nigeria | One-way | Tertiary hospital | Text about adherence and a reminder to take ART | Twice weekly | Standard Care | HIV positive patients known to be non-adherent to HAART | 4 months | Medication adherence: Self-reported ≤ 95 adherence CD4 cell count increase: Median CD4+ cell count | Adherence: RR 0.75 (0.55–0.96) CD4 cell count: intervention increased from 193 cells/ml to 575.0 cells/ml and control from 131.0 cells/ml to 361.5 cells/ml. |
Mbuagbaw 2012 [55] | Nov–Dec 2010 | 200 | Cameroon | One-way | Yaounde’ Central Hospital | Weekly motivating text to remind about adherence | Weekly | No SMS | HIV-positive adults on ART, aged 21 years and above | 3 months | Medication adherence: Self-reported VAS adherence Presence of new OI | Adherence: RR 1.06 (0.89–1.29) Presence of new OI: OR 1.56 (0.85–2.85) |
Moore 2015 [56] | Unknown | 50 | USA | Two-way | University Research Centre | 3 SMS daily | Daily | No SMS | HIV-infected methamphetamine users | 30 days | Medication adherence: MEMS adherence | NR |
Morris 2015 [57] | Sept 2012–Sept 2013 | 116,878 | USA | One-way | San Diego County Immunization Registry records | Parents chose to receive at least one reminder: mail, e-mail, or text reminder | Every 2 weeks until compliant | Email or phone call | Parents/guardians of 11–17 year old males and females | 6 months | HPV vaccine series completion: HPV dose 3 completion rates | NR |
Mugo 2016 [58] | April and July 2013 | 410 | Kenya | One-way | Health facilities and community pharmacies | SMS and phone-call reminders | One day prior to appointment | Phone call or in-person reminders | 18–29 year old patients | Unknown | Uptake of repeat HIV testing: Proportion attending | NR |
Norton 2014 * [59] | June–Aug 2010 | 52 | USA | One-way | HIV clinic | SMS reminder | One prior to appointment | Home phone call | HIV-positive adults aged > 17 years | 1 month | Appointment adherence: proportion attending | NR |
Nsagha 2016 [60] | Aug–Sept 2011 | 90 | Cameroon | One-way | Hospital | Educative text and standard treatment | Weekly: 4 times a week | Standard care | HIV-positive adults aged 23–62 years | 1 month | Medication adherence: self-reported ≤ 95% adherence | NR |
Odeny 2012 [61] | Sep 2010–Apr 2011 | 1200 | Kenya | One-way | Circumcision clinic | SMS reminders at the post-operative visit | Daily for 7 days before appointment and then 7 daily post-operative | No SMS | Men undergoing circumcision | 7 days | Appointment adherence: proportion attending | Appointment adherence: RR 1.09 (0.99–1.19) |
Odeny 2014 [62] | Sep 2010–Apr 2011 | 392 | Kenya | Two-way | Maternal postpartum HIV clinic | Text messages | Daily: 8 texts before delivery and 6 texts postpartum | No SMS | HIV-positive pregnant women at least 18 years old | 7 days | Appointment adherence: proportion attending Uptake of testing: virological infant testing by 8 weeks postpartum | Appointment adherence: RR 1.66 (1.02–2.70) Uptake of testing: 92% SMS vs 85.1% control RR 1.08 (1.00–1.16) |
Orrell 2015 [63] | July 2012–2014 | 230 | South Africa | One-way | HIV clinic | SMS reminders | One if dosing ≥ 30 min late | No SMS | ART-naive participants | 48 weeks | Medication adherence: MEMS medication refill ≤ median adherence Viral load suppression: (≥ 40 copies/mL) | Medication adherence: aOR 1.08 (0.77–1.52) Viral load suppression: aOR 0.77 (0.42–1.40). |
Patel 2014 [64] | Sep 2011–Oct 2012 | 365 | USA | One-way | Planned Parenthood health centers | Text messages | Unknown | Standard care | Females 19–26 who were vaccinated once for HPV | 32 weeks | HPV vaccine series completion: HPV dose 3 rates | aOR 0.97 (0.55–1.68) |
Perron 2010 [65] | Apr–Jun 2008 | 2123 | Switzerland | One-way | Primary care and HIV clinics | Phone, text, mail | One 2 days prior to appointment | No SMS | Adult patients (mean age 46) | 36 weeks | Appointment adherence: proportion attending | NR |
Pop-Eleches 2011 [66] | Jun 2007–Jan 2008 | 431 | Kenya | One-way | Chulaimbo Rural Health Center | Four different SMS reminder interventions | Daily or weekly | No SMS | Patients who had initiated ART within 3 months | 48 weeks | Medication Adherence: MEMS ≤ 90% adherence | NR |
Rand 2015 [67] | July 2013–March 2014 | 1924 | USA | One-way | Large not-for-profit MCO | Parents sent reminders of HPV vaccine dose | Up to 4 text messages sent | Standard care | Parents of publicly insured adolescents aged 11–16 years | 8 months | HPV vaccine series completion: HPV dose 3 rates | HR 1.30 (0.7–2.6) |
Rand 2017 [68] | Dec 2013–April 2014 | 391 | USA | One-way | 3 primary care urban clinics in New York | SMS reminder | 3 reminders for each dose (1 week apart) | Sent 1 text with a health message | Parents of 11- to 17-year-olds | Unknown | HPV vaccine completion: HPV dose 3 rates | HR 2.34 (1.67–3.27) |
Richman 2016 [69] | Aug 2011 Dec 2013 | 264 | USA | One-way | University campus student health center | 5 messages and 2 reminders | Monthly: 7 messages, once per month | Paper card with next appointment date | Uni students ages of 18 and 26 voluntarily initiating the first HPV vaccine dose | 7 months | HPV vaccine completion: HPV dose 3 rates | HPV vaccine completion not significantly different |
Rutland 2012 [70] | ND | 252 | UK | One-way | GU medicine (GUM) clinics | SMS reminder | SMS sent 1 week after missed appointment | No SMS | Non-attending patients aged 16–30 years | 6 months | Appointment adherence: proportion re-attending | NR |
Sabin 2015 [71] | Dec 2012–Oct 2013 | 119 | China | One-way | Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention ART clinic | Reminders after late dose taking | Unlimited | No SMS | HIV-positive adult patients on HIV treatment | 6 months | Medication adherence: MEMS ≤ 95% optimal adherence | Optimal adherence: RR 1.7 [1.3–2.2] |
Shet 2014 [72] | July 2010–June 2011 | 631 | South India | Two-way | Hospitals in Bangalore, Mysore, and Chennai | Pictorial reminder 4 days after an automated motivationalcall | Weekly | No SMS | Patients on ART | 24 months | Medication adherence: medication refill ≤ 95% adherence Viral load suppression: (> 400 copies/mL) | Suboptimal adherence: IRR 1.24 (0.93–1.65) Viral load did not achieve suppression levels: HR 0.98 (0.67–1.47) |
Suffoletto 2013 [73] | Sep 2011–Apr 2012 | 52 | USA | Two-way | Urban emergency department | SMS behavioral questions | Weekly | SMS reminders to complete study questionnaires | Female patients aged 18–25 years with hazardous drinking behavior and recent risky sexual encounters | 3 months | Sexual health behaviour change: always condom use in past 28 days; alcohol or drug use in past 28 days (not reported) | Sexual health behaviour change: OR 1.32 (0.31–5.71) |