Text Messaging and Atopic Dermatitis

Status:	Completed
Conditions:	Psoriasis, Dermatology
Therapuetic Areas:	Dermatology / Plastic Surgery
Healthy:	No
Age Range:	Any
Updated:	11/18/2012
Start Date:	October 2010
End Date:	June 2011
Contact:	Jaimee S Holbrook, MD
Email:	j-holbrook@northwestern.edu
Phone:	312-503-5233

The Use of Text Messages to Improve Adherence to Health Maintenance Behaviors in Adolescents With Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a common problem faced by patients of all ages and backgrounds.
Treatment regimens and specific therapies may be time consuming and multiple studies have
documented a parallel decrease in compliance as time after an office visit increases. The
adolescent population is an extremely challenging sub-group of patients in terms of
complying with a treatment regimen. Not only are they striving for independence and thus
lacking supervision of a regimen by a parent, but their complex thinking skills are
immature, leading to forgetful behavior. By introducing a reminder system for these
vulnerable patients that is easily incorporated into their daily lives, the investigators
propose that patients will have better compliance at applying their medication and thus
improving their atopic dermatitis. Text-messaging via cell phones has become very popular
among teenagers and adults and provides a non-obtrusive method of sending a treatment
reminder.

We propose to conduct a randomized, controlled 6-week trial to evaluate the impact of a text
message-based reminder program on adherence to health maintenance behaviors among
adolescents diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis. After obtaining informed consent, subjects
will be randomized into either an intervention or control group. Subjects in the
intervention group will receive a daily text message with a tailored message regarding
atopic dermatitis, while control group subjects will receive a weekly text message with
information on local weather, sport or news without any reference to atopic dermatitis. Of
note, the decision to send a weekly text message to the control group reflects the
expectation that a message will be sent, although the frequency and content of the message
will not be revealed.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 10-17 inclusive

- Capable of giving informed consent/assent. Of note, all subjects will sign an assent
form and parents will sign a parent consent form.

- Diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis by a physician (self report)

- IGA score fo 2 or greater

- Currently using at least one prescribed topical therapy for atopic dermatitis

- Have a mobile phone capable of receiving text messages

- Able to retrieve text messages from mobile phone

- Able to adhere to study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Younger than 10 years of age or 18 years and older at the time of enrollment

- No diagnosis of atopic dermatitis by a physician

- IGA score of 0 or 1

- Currently on no prescribed topical treatment for atopic dermatitis

- UV therapy or climatotherapy is a part of treatment for atopic dermatitis

- Does not have a mobile phone capable of receiving text messages

- Unable to retrieve text message

- Non-English speaking individuals (text messages are in English)

We found this trial at

sites

Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology

Chicago, Illinois 60611

from

Chicago, IL