Effectiveness of short text messages intervention to enhance medication adherence and blood lipid management in patients with chronic hyperlipidemia: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

This trial aimed to determine the effect of reminder text messages on medication adherence in patients with chronic hyperlipidemia and to compare medication adherence and lipid levels between the two patient groups. This was a single-center, randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design and equal allocation (1:1). The study was conducted at Imam Hossein Comprehensive Health Services Center located in Bushehr Province, Iran. A total of 60 patients with hyperlipidemia were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The intervention group received a daily reminder text message for six weeks. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels were measured and recorded at baseline and six weeks later, and the data were entered into a data collection form. Additionally, both groups completed the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale at the beginning of the study and again after six weeks. The primary outcome of this study was the patients' medication adherence, while the secondary outcomes included changes in cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels in the two groups. After six weeks of intervention, the mean medication adherence score (Morisky scale) in the intervention group significantly increased (6.20 vs. 3.83, p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean difference in cholesterol and triglycerides between the intervention and control groups were 41.47 and 98.23 units, respectively (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in LDL levels between the two groups at the end of the sixth week (mean difference = 1.27; p = 0.667). The reminder text message intervention improves medication adherence and results in a significant reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels; however, it has no significant impact on LDL levels. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) under the code IRCT20180703040317N1 (https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/33182).