Use of text messaging services to promote health behaviors in children.

OBJECTIVE To examine adherence to, satisfaction with, and preliminary efficacy of mobile phone short message service (SMS) to promote health behaviors in school-aged children. METHODS A total of 49 children (aged 8-10 years) were randomized by school classes into a monitoring vs no-monitoring group. All children participated in 2 educational group sessions that focused on health behaviors: the advantages of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity, and decreasing screen time. The monitoring group also reported daily behavior using SMS and received supportive feedback for 8 weeks. RESULTS Children submitted 61% of the required SMS, which indicated good adherence to the intervention. A number of children (95%) reported being satisfied with the program. Analyses of covariance indicated increase in fruit and vegetable consumption (χ² [2] = 7.27; P < .05) and a decrease in screen time (χ² [2] = 6.79; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The current SMS intervention was a useful tool to monitor and promote health behaviors in children.