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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01216059

Text Messaging and Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a common problem faced by patients of all ages and backgrounds. Treatment regimens and specific therapies may be time consuming and multiple studies have documented a parallel decrease in compliance as time after an office visit increases. The adolescent population is an extremely challenging sub-group of patients in terms of complying with a treatment regimen. Not only are they striving for independence and thus lacking supervision of a regimen by a parent, but their complex thinking skills are immature, leading to forgetful behavior. By introducing a reminder system for these vulnerable patients that is easily incorporated into their daily lives, the investigators propose that patients will have better compliance at applying their medication and thus improving their atopic dermatitis. Text-messaging via cell phones has become very popular among teenagers and adults and provides a non-obtrusive method of sending a treatment reminder.

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Key information

Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Dermatitis Dermatitis, Atopic Genetic Diseases, Inborn Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Immune System Diseases Skin Diseases Skin Diseases, Eczematous Skin Diseases, Genetic Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

10 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, United States

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About this study

We propose to conduct a randomized, controlled 6-week trial to evaluate the impact of a text message-based reminder program on adherence to health maintenance behaviors among adolescents diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis. After obtaining informed consent, subjects will be randomized into either an intervention or control group. Subjects in the intervention group will receive a daily text message with a tailored message regarding atopic dermatitis, while control group subjects will receive a weekly text message with information on local weather, sport or news without any reference to atopic dermatitis. Of note, the decision to send a weekly text message to the control group reflects the expectation that a message will be sent, although the frequency and content of the message will not be revealed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 10-17 inclusive
  • Capable of giving informed consent/assent. Of note, all subjects will sign an assent form and parents will sign a parent consent form.
  • Diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis by a physician (self report)
  • IGA score fo 2 or greater
  • Currently using at least one prescribed topical therapy for atopic dermatitis
  • Have a mobile phone capable of receiving text messages
  • Able to retrieve text messages from mobile phone
  • Able to adhere to study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.

Exclusion criteria

  • Younger than 10 years of age or 18 years and older at the time of enrollment
  • No diagnosis of atopic dermatitis by a physician
  • IGA score of 0 or 1
  • Currently on no prescribed topical treatment for atopic dermatitis
  • UV therapy or climatotherapy is a part of treatment for atopic dermatitis
  • Does not have a mobile phone capable of receiving text messages
  • Unable to retrieve text message
  • Non-English speaking individuals (text messages are in English)

Treatment and study plan

Text message to cell phone

Procedure

Subjects will receive a daily text message reminder about their treatment for atopic dermatitis during the 6 weeks of the study

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in self reported medication adherence

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    We will assess the difference in number of missed doses of topical medication in the control group (weekly unrelated text message) and the intervention group (daily eczema-related text message group). All subjects will record missed doses via calendars (diaries). Those in the intervention group will be able to text on a weekly basis the number of days they forgot their medication that week.

  2. Change in quality of life

    Time frame: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in AD knowledge score

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. Change in health maintenance behaviors

    Time frame: 6 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Use of Text Messages to Improve Adherence to Health Maintenance Behaviors in Adolescents With Atopic Dermatitis

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Oct 7, 2010
Registry last updated
Dec 3, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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