The effect of supportive text message on the adherence to medication in depression: An experimental study

Abstract

Background & Aim:Lack of adherence to prescribed medication is a main concern in medicine especially in chronic diseases. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of supportive text message on the adherence to treatment of depression. Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on sixty eligible patients with diagnosis of depression who referred to a psychiatry clinic in Shahrekord. The patients were allocated to supportive text message and control groups. The patients in both groups were treated with the same antidepressants; however, the patients in supportive text message group additionally received daily text messages for six weeks. The adherence to medication was assessed by a researcher-made questionnaire and the severity of depression was assessed by Beck depression inventory. Results: Immediately after intervention, average score of depression showed a significant improvement in both groups (P<0.001). Moreover, the average score of depression and medication adherence, in two groups (supportive short message and control group) had no significant differences (16.76 ± 4.70 and 63.3% Vs 19.83 ± 7.39 and 53.3%) (P= 0.06 and 0.31). Conclusion: Daily supportive text message in this study could not improve antidepressant adherence and depressive symptoms in patients with major depression.

Keywords

• depression
• treatment refusal
• text messaging
• adherence
• medication