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Cited by 145Mobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsSocial Media in Health EducationAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

What's in a message? Delivering sexual health promotion to young people in Australia via text messaging

Open access
Gold, Judy, Lim, Megan SC, Hellard, Margaret E, Hocking, Jane S, Keogh, Louise·2010·BMC Public Health
DOI 10.1186/1471-2458-10-792PMC PMC3022861
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Advances in communication technologies have dramatically changed how individuals access information and communicate. Recent studies have found that mobile phone text messages (SMS) can be used successfully for short-term behaviour change. However there is no published information examining the acceptability, utility and efficacy of different characteristics of health promotion SMS. This paper presents the results of evaluation focus groups among participants who received twelve sexual health related SMS as part of a study examining the impact of text messaging for sexual health promotion to on young people in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Eight gender-segregated focus groups were held with 21 males and 22 females in August 2008. Transcripts of audio recordings were analysed using thematic analysis. Data were coded under one or more themes. RESULTS: Text messages were viewed as an acceptable and 'personal' means of health promotion, with participants particularly valuing the informal language. There was a preference for messages that were positive, relevant and short and for messages to cover a variety of topics. Participants were more likely to remember and share messages that were funny, rhymed and/or tied into particular annual events. The message broadcasting, generally fortnightly on Friday afternoons, was viewed as appropriate. Participants said the messages provided new information, a reminder of existing information and reduced apprehension about testing for sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile phones, in particular SMS, offer health promoters an exciting opportunity to engage personally with a huge number of individuals for low cost. The key elements emerging from this evaluation, such as message style, language and broadcast schedule are directly relevant to future studies using SMS for health promotion, as well as for future health promotion interventions in other mediums that require short formats, such as social networking sites.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Ahonen T: Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2010: Mobile Telecoms Industry Review (eBook). Book Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2010: Mobile Telecoms Industry Review (eBook). 2010, TomiAhonen Consulting, (accessed 20 May 2010), [ http://www.tomiahonen.com/ebook/almanac.html ]
  2. QSR International: NVivo 8. 2008
  3. Milne K, Bowler S, Li J, Salmon P: Evaluation of the first year of the Txt2Quit service. Book Evaluation of the first year of the Txt2Quit service. 2009, The Quit Group, (accessed 14 May 2010), [ http://www.quit.org.nz/file/research/FINAL%202008-09%20Txt2Quit%20evaluation%20report%2020090731.pdf ]

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Metadata

Authors
Gold, J., Lim, M. S., Hellard, M. E., Hocking, J. S., & Keogh, L.
Affiliations
  • Burnet Institute (AU)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author
Gold, Judy
ORCID
Venue
BMC Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2010-12
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
792-792
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1471-2458-10-792
PMC
PMC3022861
OpenAlex
W2117236480
Cited by
145
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 10
FWCI
16.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Burnet Institute
  • Australian Government
  • Windermere Foundation
  • Monash University
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
  • Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Keywords
sexual health promotion, text messaging, youth, acceptability, sexually transmitted infection testing, behavior change, social networking sites
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Australia, Communication, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Sex Education, Tape Recording, Focus Groups, Cell Phone, Young Adult

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