Successful implementation of a short message service (SMS) as intensive care to family communication tool

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Regularly informing families of the condition of their relative can be difficult. Text messaging via mobile telephones may achieve such communication effectively. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypotheses that we could efficiently deliver real-time short message service (SMS) updates to families and that these SMS updates would be accepted and welcomed. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Cohort of 91 cardiac surgery patients and 156 family participants. INTERVENTION: At five distinct landmark events, we sent pre-written SMS updates to designated mobile numbers. We used the sendQuick (TalariaX) mobile messaging platform via the internet in our hospital. To alleviate pr..