Table 3.

Example of text messages for the CHAT and CHAT-DM Studies

CHAT text (six texts/week)	CHAT-DM text (six texts/week)
General education (CVD) (2x/week)* The most common risk factors for coronary artery disease are smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. However, most of them can be controlled in an appropriate way.	General education (DM) (1x/week) Diabetes is not terrible and there are many things you can do to prevent problems from diabetes, such as monitoring blood glucose, watching your diet, keeping fit and taking pills regularly.
Blood pressure control (2x/week) Most people do not experience any symptoms of high blood pressure. Do not stop taking blood pressure medication unless directed by your doctor. It is important for patients with hypertension to take medication diligently and to monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis.	Blood pressure control (1x/week) Home blood pressure monitoring is highly recommended! You can get an accurate picture of your heart health and understand daily changes in blood pressure, which is helpful for doctors to adjust medications for you.
Medication adherence (1x/week) Do you have a problem remembering to take your blood pressure medications? If so, try to tell your family about your medicine schedule so they can remind you.	Medication adherence (1x/week) Talk to doctors about your concerns and any uncomfortable symptoms after taking pills. Let your doctor help you to find the right medication for you.
Physical activity (1x/week) You can still choose low-intensity exercise even after heart attack, such as walking and t’ai chi, at a slower pace and stick to your exercise plan. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise programme.	Physical activity (1x/week) Try brisk walking—a convenient, safe and cost-effective way of exercising! It’s good for your heart and will help control blood glucose.
Smoking cessation (1x/week)† Do you worry about your family having health problems because of your smoking? Quitting is an important choice you can make to benefit your family’s health, too. Secondhand smoke can cause respiratory disease, lung cancer and heart disease.	Diabetes management (1x/week) See a doctor before you travel. Always carry your diabetes medications and insulin, glucose meter and strips, so that you can better monitor your glucose. Carry some hard candy and crackers to avoid low sugar.
	Lifestyle intervention (1×/week) Individuals with diabetes should consume a balanced diet, and eat smaller but more frequent meals. Consider splitting your meal and save it for a snack later. Some healthy snack choices include tomatoes, cucumbers and sugar-free biscuits.

*In CHAT, non-smokers receive two general education messages per week, while smokers only receive one per week.

†In CHAT, only smokers receive smoking cessation messages.

CHAT, Cardiovascular Health And Text Messaging; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus.