SMS-Text to Improve Medication Compliance Among Hypertensive African-Americans
Abstract
**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Background: Hypertension, the second leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), affects
approximately 40% of African-Americans (Mansyur, Pavlik, Hyman, Taylor, & Goodrick,
2009). One well-known barrier to hypertension management among African-Americans is poor
medication compliance (Ephraim et al., 2014; Solomon et al., 2015). The purpose of this project
was to evaluate the effect of SMS-text messages on antihypertensive medication compliance and
hypertension knowledge among hypertensive African-Americans with a known history of
antihypertensive medication noncompliance.
Methods: African-Americans (n=25), with a known history of hypertension and medication
noncompliance, received 12 twice weekly SMS-text messages relating to hypertension
knowledge and medication compliance. A pretest/posttest design assessed hypertension
knowledge using the Hypertension Knowledge Questionnaire and assessed medication
compliance using the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy scale.
Results: Twenty-five hypertensive African-Americans (mean age 49.52 years) participated in
this project. Hypertension knowledge revealed a significant increase (p= .005). Analysis of HillBone
Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale scores did not reveal a significant
difference in medication compliance (p = .295). Further analysis of the medication compliance
subscale revealed similar results (p = .812).
Conclusion: SMS-text messaging is an effective intervention for increasing hypertension
knowledge. Patient reported hypertensive medication compliance did not undergo significant
change. Future studies should explore methods to implement SMS-text messaging which
improve hypertension knowledge but also encourage self-efficacy behaviors.