The role of short messaging service in supporting the delivery of healthcare: An umbrella systematic review.
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Date
2016-05-28
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Abstract
Short messaging service SMS messages may present a convenient and cost effective method to support healthcare interventions This work assesses the effects of short messaging service on various healthcare interventions found in systematic reviews The search strategy was based on two key concepts short messaging service and healthcare delivery The initial search was conducted in December 2012 and was updated in June 2013 Of the 550 identified references 13 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria of which 8 were published in peer reviewed journals and 5 were retrieved from the Cochrane library Data analysis shows that low to moderate research evidence exists on the benefits of short messaging service interventions for appointment reminders promoting health in developing countries and preventive healthcare In many interventions however there were a few studies that were of high quality and most of the studies were rated from low to moderate quality or had no rating at all Healthcare organizations policy makers or clinicians using short messaging service messages to support healthcare interventions should 1 implement interventions that have been found to work in healthcare settings 2 continue evaluating short messaging service interventions that have not been adequately assessed and 3 improve collaboration between various healthcare entities to develop studies targeted at specific populations to evaluate the long term impact of short messaging service on healthcare outcomes