South Kingstown, RI. (June 12, 2014) – As part of a larger trial, U. S. Veterans who received the full Pro-Change Smoking Cessation Program, plus the new text messaging enhancement, were asked what they liked most about the program.
The overwhelming majority indicated that the text messaging they received was one of the program’s highlights; with 72% indicating that the texts helped move them forward toward quitting and over 79% indicating that the texts reinforced what they had done online in the computer tailored program.
The Pro-Change texting enhancement goes beyond the standard use of SMS for reminders and segmented messaging. Rather, our software has been designed to implement best practices of Transtheoretical Model tailoring. That results in a fully tailored text message for each individual that aims to reinforce the tailored experience they have online. In addition, each time a participant interacts with the computer tailored program, the text messages are re-tailored to the individual’s current behavior change status.
Results of the clinical trial, led at Pro-Change by Senior Vice President Kerry Evers, Ph.D., comparing the standard online program to the enhanced program including the text messages, are forthcoming. However, evaluation and qualitative feedback indicate that participants found the new messaging component very useful. One participant stated, “Early on, the text messages were the only thing that made me think twice and not give up. With time, I was confident enough to manage this on my own.” This unique texting program is now being implemented as an enhancement in all Pro-Change LifeStyle Management programs.
This research was conducted with the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute which awarded a subcontract to Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. through funding from the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), an office of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC).