Diabetes Research Programme - DM12

Mobile phone text-messaging to support treatment for people with type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: a pragmatic individually randomised trial

Project locations: Cape Town, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; Malawi

Funding organisation(s)

Primary research aim

The overall aim of this project is to test the effectiveness of sending short message service (SMS) texts in improving health outcomes and supporting medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes in the context of implementing a low-cost, mobile-health communication infrastructure in an operational setting.

Research objectives and methodology

The primary outcome is the Change in HbA1c and the proportion of patients collecting >= 80% of their agreed diabetes related medication. HbA1c will be measured using International Federation of Clinical Chemistry calibrated analysers linked to a quality assurance scheme.

Secondary clinical outcomes are change in systolic blood pressure, proportion of participants reaching treatment goals, self-reported measures of health status, self reported medication taking, and satisfaction with care. We will use the EuroQol 5-Dimension, 3 Level (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and a locally adapted questionnaire to establish satisfaction with treatment and delivery of treatment.

Project contact: Professor Andrew Farmer - andrew.farmer@phc.ox.ac.uk

Investigators

PIs

Andrew Farmer, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Naomi Levitt, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Shane Norris, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Moffat Nyirenda, Karonga Prevention Study, Malawi

Research team

Kirsten Bobrow, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Emmanuelle Daviaud, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Natalie Leon, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Lionel Tarassenko, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Ly-Mee Yu, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK