Center for Connected Health awarded McKesson Foundation Grant to develop text messaging program for diabetes patients

Last week, the Center for Connected Health was awarded a research grant from the McKesson Foundation’s Mobilizing for Health initiative to develop a text messaging program to help diabetes patients better manage their condition.

Their randomized, controlled clinical trial will integrate a text messaging program into an existing Diabetes Self-Management and Education program at three of Massachusetts General Hospital’s community health centers representing medically underserved and low-income populations in the Boston area. The goal of this study is to assess the effect of personalized text messages on clinical outcomes and physical activity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, many of whom are obese or have low levels of activity. Results will be measured by change in HbA1c (the clinical measure for blood sugar control), as well as patients’ engagement, usability and satisfaction with the program. This study will also use pedometers to measure physical activity, to better target messages to engage patients in behavior change to increase their activity levels.

You can learn more about this initiative here (PDF)