Use of Mobile Phone Short Text Message Service to Enhance Cervical Cancer Screening at Thika Level 5 Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Wanyoro, A.K.
Kabiru, E.W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley Online Library
Abstract
Cervical cancer is a major public health problem among adult women especially in developing countries
hence its control is of paramount importance. Organized screening programs have led to a large decline in cervical cancer
incidence and mortality in developed countries. In Kenya, very few women at risk of the disease have regular repeat
screening and there exists no effective recall mechanism to enhance scheduled screening. The Short Message Service (SMS)
Text may be used as a recall tool to enhance cervical cancer screening in developing countries such as Kenya, where other
communication means may not be easily available. A blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted where participants
were recruited from among screening naïve patients at Thika Level 5 hospital. The participants were randomly allocated to
an intervention (Short Message Service (SMS) text reminders) and a control (no SMS) arm. The study aimed to determine
the influence of using SMS text reminders in enhancing adherence to scheduled repeat screening for cervical cancer. The
mean age of the participants was 38.8 ± 10.8, most were married and of low socio- economic status. It was found that
67.1% of participants in the intervention arm and 20.3% in the control arm re-attended to rescreening making those who
received SMS reminders 8 times more likely to adhere to scheduled rescreening than those who did not receive reminders
(OR 8.02; CI 95% 4.69-13.73; p-<0.001). The study recommended that the Short Text Message Service (SMS) reminders
should be integrated into the cervical cancer screening programs in resource constrained countries like Kenya.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Cervical, Cancer, Screening, Adherence, SMS
Citation
Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2017, 5(1): 10-20 DOI: 10.5923/j.rog.20170501.03