Acceptability of short message service (SMS) as a tool for malaria treatment adherence in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study

Rodovalho, Sheila; Dias, Ádila Liliane Barros; Ade, Maria Paz; Saint-Gerons, Diego Macias; Castro, Jose Luis; Beratarrechea, Andrea; Murta, Felipe Leão Gomes; Santos, Alicia Cacau Patrine dos; Marques, Leonardo Lincoln Gomes; Sampaio, Vanderson Souza; Baia-da-Silva, Djane Clarys; Monteiro, Wuelton Marcelo

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0616-2022

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Short Communication • Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 56 • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0616-2022 copy

Acceptability of short message service (SMS) as a tool for malaria treatment adherence in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Background:

Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide, and patient adherence to prescribed antimalarials is essential for effective treatment.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study, with in-depth telephone interviews, analyzed participants’ perceptions of short message service (SMS) in adherence to treatment.

Results:

Five thematic categories emerged: decreased forgetfulness, the novelty of the tool, easy-to-understand language, the impact of SMS messages during treatment, and suggestions for improvement and complaints.

Conclusions:

SMS could assist patients in adhering to prescribed antimalarials.

Keywords:
Malaria; SMS; Medication adherence; Malaria treatment

Questions / Theme	Objective
1. What is your name?	Getting to know the participant and his/her personal experience with the tool. Bring the interviewer and the participant closer
2. Did you receive SMS messages to remind you about malaria treatment?
3. How was your experience with these messages?
4. Have you ever seen anything like it before? (If yes, do you have an example?)
5. Did the SMS use easy-to-understand language?
6. Did you have any difficulty understanding anything? (If yes, what?)
7. How did you feel about this approach?	Assess the acceptability of the tool
8. Did you like receiving messages? Why?
9. Was there anything you did not like? (If yes, what?)
10. Is there anything you identified as negative in receiving these messages?
11. Do you think it is useful to receive SMS messages, or do you prefer to remember to take the treatment yourself?
12. Do you believe that the use of this tool will reduce forgetfulness when taking malaria treatment?
13. Do you think the tool could be improved? (If so, how?)
14. Did you stop taking your malaria treatment at any time? If yes, why?	Identify the reason for non-compliance
15. Did you receive the messages on the right days, or did they fail at some point?
16. Did you forget to take your treatment? What did you do?
17. Did you have a problem with your treatment?

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[1] Corresponding author: Dr. Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro. e-mail:wueltonmm@gmail.com