Adherence
Electronic message (SMS/email) nudges consisting of 3-4 weekly questions about diet adherence and emotional state do not significantly improve class attendance, diet adherence, or weight loss maintenance compared to historical controls in the second half of a weight loss trial.
If you are trying to stick to a diet plan, simple automated text messages asking about your progress are unlikely to be enough on their own to keep you on track. To maintain adherence, especially when in-person support drops off, you likely need more interactive, varied, or personalized feedback mechanisms rather than just generic reminders.
Compared with matched controls, receiving e-messages had no effect on (1) treatment adherence; class attendance after 6 months +4.6% (95% CI −4.43 to 13.68, P=.31), (2) adherence; LC −2.5 g carbohydrate... LF +6.2 g fat... or on (3) the secondary outcome of weight change in the last 6 months; +0.3 kg (95% CI −1.0 to 1.5, P=.68).
Why this rating
The study uses a quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching to historical controls rather than a randomized controlled trial for the intervention group, introducing potential selection bias despite matching.
Source
To Text or Not to Text: Electronic Message Intervention to Improve Treatment Adherence Versus Matched Historical Controls
Marily Oppezzo et al. · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · 2018
DOI 10.2196/11720
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