TEXTME
The TEXTME team is a group of health professionals and researchers committed to improving health for all people on our planet.
We have a strong focus on prevention, closing healthcare gaps and improving access to the best quality, evidence-based healthcare.
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The SupportMe program is a patient-centred text messaging service for people in Western Sydney. It is designed to provide semi-personalised support in clinical and behavioural management to individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or type 2 diabetes.
SupportMe builds on the success of the TEXTME program developed by Western Sydney researchers for people with CHD only, SupportMe will be made available to a broader patient population with chronic disease. The program is lead by Prof Clara Chow and Prof N Wah Cheung.
SupportMe has been set up as an implementation trial and will be formally evaluated in a randomised clinical trial. Post evaluation SupportMe will be integrated into existing state and national health services.
Contact Information
Phone: 02 8890 9818
Fax: 02 8572 8277
Email: WSLHD-SupportMe@health.nsw.gov.au
Click HERE to download Patient Referral Form.
The Tobacco, Exercise and Diet Messages (TextMe) trial was a randomised clinical trial of 710 patients with CHD. Intervention participants received a 6-month program of regular SMS messages (4 per week) providing advice, motivation, information and support to quit smoking (if relevant), and engage in healthy eating and physical activity. The study showed that at 6 months, levels of LDL-C were significantly lower in intervention participants, with concurrent reductions in systolic blood pressure and BMI, significant increases in physical activity, and a significant reduction in smoking. Patients reported the text messages to be useful (91%), easy to understand (97%), and appropriate in frequency (86%). For more text message programs, please visit www.text-me.net.
Study Approval
This research project has been approved by the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee and is supported by the NSW Translational Research Grant Scheme (TRGS)