EFFECTIVENESS OF TEXT MESSAGE REMINDERS ON IMPROVING OUT-PATIENTS’ ADHERENCE TO ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY AT THE TEMA GENERAL HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT

Background: Medication adherence directly influences the attainment of treatment goals. In spite of this, approximately 50% of patients do not adhere to prescribed medication regimen. Poor adherence to medicines is a global health challenge that needs attention as it leads to increased healthcare costs, poor clinical outcomes, increased morbidity and mortality. Text message reminders have been found to be a useful tool for improving adherence to medicines in several parts of the world. However in Ghana, little is known about the effectiveness of text message reminders on improving adherence to antibiotics. 

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of text message reminders on improving outpatients’ adherence to antibiotic therapy in the Tema general hospital 

Method: The study was carried out at the Pharmacy Department of Tema General Hospital. Two hundred and four adult out patients who visited the hospital and were given one or more antibiotics for a maximum of 7 days to treat various infections were enrolled into the study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups; those who received text message reminders and those who received no text message reminders. Participants’ levels of adherence were assessed through telephone interviews a day after the expected date for completing their antibiotic therapy. 

Results: Eighteen of the participants were lost to follow up and of the remaining 186, 85 of the received text message reminders. Sixty-two and half percent of participants who received text message reminders were adherent whereas only 45.5% of participants who did not receive text message reminders were adherent and the difference in adherence was statically significant. The text message reminders increased the odds of adherence (OR 1.9, 95% CI [1.05-3.68], p value 0.024).  

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that text message reminders are effective in improving out-patient adherence to antibiotics. Further study should be conducted to assess the design and deployment of text message reminders to help optimize its effect on adherence