Nagging texts help teens remember to take meds

4gt yr meds? Getting kids to remember their medicine may be a text message away. USA Today reports.

"Cincinnati doctors are experimenting with texting to tackle a big problem: Tweens and teens too often do a lousy job of controlling chronic illnesses like asthma, diabetes or kidney disease.

Some studies suggest only half of adolescents, on average, properly follow treatment steps, says Dr. Dennis Drotar of Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

... Dr. Maria Britto, an asthma specialist at Cincinnati Children's, noticed that even when she's talking to adolescent patients perched on the clinic exam table, they'll keep texting on their cellphones.

But it sparked the idea for a study to see if a daily medication reminder via text message would improve kids' asthma control — preventing full-blown attacks, improving school attendance and decreasing doctor and emergency-room visits.

Pilot testing recently began, with a full study set for later this year. Participants say what time they want the reminder, and a clinic volunteer types out the messages — words spelled out, no mimicking of kids' text lingo."

It seems to be working.

emily | 8:17 AM | Health Issues and SMS Alerts |
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