Table 1.

Study Characteristics

1st Author (Year), Country	Target Behavior	Study Design & Duration	Sample N=baseline→evaluation	Intervention	Outcome Measures & Evaluation	Principal Findings
Carrasco (2008), Spain	HTN	RCT 6 months	Sample Size: N= 285→273 (IG: 142→131, CG: 143→142) Mean age: IG: 62.1 years, CG: 62.8 years Female: IG: 39.7%, CG: 40.8%	IG: reported BP, HR, and weight to their GP weekly via SMS + (GP feedback optional) CG: self- measured BP, HR, and weight weekly + reported their measures in- person during routine visits	Primary: degree of HTN control and uncontrolled HTN at 6 months Secondary: BP, HR, quality of life, anxiety survey scores, number of consultation visits, and hospital admissions Evaluation: baseline and 6 months	No significant difference in % with controlled BP at 6 months No significant BP decreases from baseline for both groups No significant difference in quality of life and anxiety survey scores No significant median difference in number of hospital admissions
Kiselev (2012), Russia	HTN	RCT 12 months	Sample Size: N= 199→164 (IG: 97→62, CG: 102) Mean age: IG: 49 years, CG: 51 years Female: IG: 45%, CG: 50%	IG & CG (at baseline): prescribed medication, encouraged to measured BP at home, and received informational brochures IG: daily/weekly SMS for 12 months CG: standard care	Primary: BP goal of 135/85 mmHg Secondary: weight loss and smoking cessation Evaluation: baseline, 6, and 12 months	77% (IG) vs. 12% (CG) reached BP goal at 12 months
Lin (2014), China	Weight loss	RCT 6 months SMS component was supplemental	Sample Size: N=123→110 (IG: 63→56, CG: 60→54) Mean age: IG: 38.35 years, CG: 38.07 years Female: IG: 60.32%, CG: 60%	IG: daily SMS + goal setting + 3 group education sessions + 5 coaching calls CG: brief education information at baseline	Primary: weight change Secondary: BP, BMI, waist circumference, body fat (%), dietary intake, physical activity, and psychosocial factors Evaluation: baseline and 6 months	Significant difference in mean weight change at 6 months (IG: −1.6kg, CG: +0.24kg) Significant difference in mean BP change (IG: −1.71/−3.24mmHG, CG: +2.34/+1.2mmHg) Significant difference in mean BMI change (IG: −0.61 kg/m2, CG: +0.07 kg/m2) Significant difference in mean decrease in waist circumference Significant difference in mean %body fat change (IG: −0.66%, CG: +0.36%)
Márquez- Contreras (2014), Spain	HTN	RCT 6 months	Sample Size: N= 104→67 (IG: 52→34, CG: 52→33) Mean age: IG: 56.3 years, CG: 59.4 years Female: IG: 47.1%, CG: 42.4%	IG & CG (at baseline): printed HTN information and prescribed medication IG: weekly SMS for 4 months CG: standard of care	Primary: Patient percentage compliance score, based on medication adherence Secondary: BP and weight Evaluation: baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months	No significant difference in medication adherence between groups at 6 months 65% (IG) vs. 52% (CG) had controlled BP; however, no significant difference in mean BP decreases between groups Significant mean weight loss decrease in IG
Palileo- Villanueva* (reference 16), Philippines	HTN	RCT 3 months	Sample Size: N= 700→286 (IG: 350→151, CG: 350→135) Mean age: IG: 59 years, CG: 59.6 years Female: IG: 66.1%, CG: 64.4%	IG: weekly medication adherence reminders via SMS CG: standard of care	Primary: SBP and DBP Secondary: medication adherence (self- report) and SMS acceptability survey Evaluation: baseline and 3 months	No significant difference in mean SBP decrease at 3 months (IG: −13.7mmHg, CG: −9.5mmHg) Higher medication adherence in IG Overall positive SMS experience with 80% reporting that the SMS help them remember to take their medication
Park (2009), South Korea	HTN, Weight loss	Quasi- experimental 2 months	Sample Size: N= 55→49 (IG: 30→28, CG: 25→21) Mean ages: IG: 53.2 years, CG: 54.6 years Female: IG: 39.3%, CG: 57.1%	IG: reported BP, weight, and medication information weekly via SMS or web- based diary + tailored feedback from study staff CG: provided with study information only	Primary: BP, weight, waist circumference, and serum lipids Evaluation: baseline and 2 months	Significant mean BP decrease in IG only at 2 months IG showed significant mean weight decrease; however, no significant difference in mean weight loss between groups Significant difference in waist circumference (IG: −2.8cm, CG: +2.1cm) No significant difference in serum lipid level

^*Data available from https://clinicaltrials.gov

Abbreviations Key: Blood Pressure (BP), Body Mass Index (BMI), Cardiovascular disease (CVD), General Provider (GP), Heart Rate (HR), High blood pressure (HBP), Hypertension (HTN), Intervention Group (IG), Randomized Controlled Trial (RTC)