Could text reminders prevent some diseases?

Doctors in India wondered if intervention on those prone to developing Type II Diabetes would prove to help them from developing the disease.  They decided that an affordable way to do test a pool of men in India who had the following qualifications: have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 23 and positive family history of diabetes, own a mobile phone, and be able to read and understand text messages in English.  From there, they divided the trial participants into those who would receive intervention messages or standard messages.  All the messages sent related to a healthy lifestyle and and information about diet and exercise and were sent in the morning and evening. After two years of this test, those in the test group receiving intervention message proved less likely to develop diabetes - only 50 individuals in the test group compared to 73 in the control group.  The test proved that out of every eleven people who receive these texts, one case of diabetes would be prevented.  For more information on how this affected the participants BMI and other questions that remain after the study, read the article. At ePharma Summit 2014 taking place in February  in New York City, we'll be looking at how Pharma companies can enhance their offerings by connecting with the patient via digital to help increase their compliance and become more informed on their conditions.  Sign up for updates to receive the latest news on the ePharma Summit 20...
Source: ePharma Summit - Category: Medical Marketing and PR Tags: Type II Diabetes Prevention Health intervention ePharma Summit Source Type: blogs