What's in a message? Delivering sexual health promotion to young people in Australia via text messaging - PubMed (original) (raw)

What's in a message? Delivering sexual health promotion to young people in Australia via text messaging

Judy Gold et al. BMC Public Health. 2010.

Abstract

Background: Advances in communication technologies have dramatically changed how individuals access information and communicate. Recent studies have found that mobile phone text messages (SMS) can be used successfully for short-term behaviour change. However there is no published information examining the acceptability, utility and efficacy of different characteristics of health promotion SMS. This paper presents the results of evaluation focus groups among participants who received twelve sexual health related SMS as part of a study examining the impact of text messaging for sexual health promotion to on young people in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Eight gender-segregated focus groups were held with 21 males and 22 females in August 2008. Transcripts of audio recordings were analysed using thematic analysis. Data were coded under one or more themes.

Results: Text messages were viewed as an acceptable and 'personal' means of health promotion, with participants particularly valuing the informal language. There was a preference for messages that were positive, relevant and short and for messages to cover a variety of topics. Participants were more likely to remember and share messages that were funny, rhymed and/or tied into particular annual events. The message broadcasting, generally fortnightly on Friday afternoons, was viewed as appropriate. Participants said the messages provided new information, a reminder of existing information and reduced apprehension about testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Conclusions: Mobile phones, in particular SMS, offer health promoters an exciting opportunity to engage personally with a huge number of individuals for low cost. The key elements emerging from this evaluation, such as message style, language and broadcast schedule are directly relevant to future studies using SMS for health promotion, as well as for future health promotion interventions in other mediums that require short formats, such as social networking sites.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Giddens A. The Consequences of Modernity. Standford, California: Standford University Press; 1990.
    1. Ahonen T. Book Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2010: Mobile Telecoms Industry Review (eBook) TomiAhonen Consulting; 2010. Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2010: Mobile Telecoms Industry Review (eBook)http://www.tomiahonen.com/ebook/almanac.html (accessed 20 May 2010)
    1. Lim M, Hocking JS, Hellard ME, Aitken CK. SMS STI: a review of the uses of mobile phone text messaging in sexual health. Int J STD AIDS. 2008;19:287–290. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2007.007264. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cole-Lewis H, Kershaw T. Text Messaging as a Tool for Behavior Change in Disease Prevention and Management. Epidemiologic reviews. 2010. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fjeldsoe BS, Marshall AL, Miller YD. Behavior change interventions delivered by mobile telephone short-message service. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36:165–173. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.09.040. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources