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Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

SMS Text Messaging May Motivate Youth with Diabetes to Increase Activity

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

Last updated August 29, 2026

Key finding

Participants frequently cited near-continuous smartphone use and agreed that SMS text messages would serve as good reminders to be physically active.

This study explored the design of an SMS text messaging intervention for adolescents with obesity and diabetes, focusing on feedback and attitudes toward financial incentives.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Medium-Term (3–12 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study explored the design of an SMS text messaging intervention for adolescents with obesity and diabetes, focusing on feedback and attitudes toward financial incentives.

Clinical relevance

Understanding how adolescents perceive SMS reminders and financial incentives can help tailor interventions that effectively promote physical activity. This is crucial for addressing obesity and diabetes in this population, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

Keep in mind

The effectiveness of the intervention remains unclear due to limited data. Diverse opinions on financial incentives may complicate their implementation. The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the enrolled population.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Tiffany L, Dina G, Kara M, et al. Engaging Adolescents with Obesity and Diabetes in SMS Text Messaging Intervention Design. JMIR Diabetes. 2022;7(2):e33082. doi:10.2196/33082

View DOIView on PubMedView on PMC

Main Effects

Participants frequently cited smartphone use and agreed that SMS text messages would serve as good reminders to be physically active.

Attitudes toward financial incentives varied, with differing opinions on loss-framed incentives.

Many participants emphasized the importance of intrinsic motivation over extrinsic incentives for behavior change.

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults, Attitudes toward financial incentives, Intrinsic motivation after exercise.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Outcome

Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

Evidence topic

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Primary intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Primary outcomes

  • Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults
  • Attitudes toward financial incentives
  • Intrinsic motivation after exercise

Evidence topics

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Primary intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Primary outcomes

Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging AdultsAttitudes toward financial incentivesIntrinsic motivation after exercise

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

3
Evidence pairs
3
Relationships
2
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 60

2

Related topics

3

Evidence pairs

362

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 3 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 1 direct semantic evidence topic

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Add related evidence to your Evidence Tracker

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Primary evidence

Evidence topic

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

matched_intervention

Related evidence

Evidence topic

Diabetes Technology

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Attitudes toward financial incentives

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Attitudes toward financial incentives

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Attitudes toward financial incentives

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Intrinsic motivation after exercise

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Intrinsic motivation after exercise

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Intrinsic motivation after exercise

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • SMS text messages could effectively remind adolescents to be active.
  • Mixed attitudes toward financial incentives suggest careful consideration in interventions.
  • Intrinsic motivation was highlighted as crucial for sustaining behavior change.
who this applies

Who this applies to

  • Adolescents aged 12-18 with obesity and diabetes.
  • Participants who frequently use smartphones.
keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • The study's findings are based on participant feedback and may not reflect actual behavior change.
  • Variability in attitudes toward financial incentives could affect intervention design.
  • The sample may not represent all adolescents with obesity and diabetes.
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • The effectiveness of the intervention remains unclear due to limited data.
  • Diverse opinions on financial incentives may complicate their implementation.
  • The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the enrolled population.

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

This study contributes to evidence on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Attitudes toward financial incentives.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Included in these evidence collections

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

2 studies
outcome_hub

Measures Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults as a key outcome.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs Evidence Hub

All studies on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs

2 studies
intervention_hub

Contributes to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs evidence base.

Attitudes toward financial incentives Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Attitudes toward financial incentives

1 studies
outcome_hub

Measures Attitudes toward financial incentives as a key outcome.

Explore more in Evidence Explorer

Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.

All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

Intervention: SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotionOutcome: Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

2 results

All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Attitudes toward financial incentives

Intervention: SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotionOutcome: Attitudes toward financial incentives

1 results

All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Intervention: SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

2 results

All studies measuring Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

Outcome: Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

2 results

All studies measuring Attitudes toward financial incentives

Outcome: Attitudes toward financial incentives

1 results

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve acceptability of sms text messaging reminder among emerging adults?

Moderate Evidence

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion appears to improve acceptability of sms text messaging reminder among emerging adults.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging Adults

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study
View Full Evidence

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve intrinsic motivation after exercise?

Emerging Evidence

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion appears to improve intrinsic motivation after exercise.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Intrinsic motivation after exercise

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study
View Full Evidence

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve attitudes toward financial incentives?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion for attitudes toward financial incentives.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Attitudes toward financial incentives

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study
View Full Evidence
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Next steps

Continue your research

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Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Evidence HubDiabetes Technology Evidence Hub

Explore in Evidence Explorer

Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.

All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Acceptability of SMS Text Messaging Reminder among Emerging AdultsAll studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Attitudes toward financial incentivesAll studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Intrinsic motivation after exercise

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Read related research summaries.

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