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Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Text Messaging May Improve Adherence in Diabetes Care

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

Last updated August 29, 2026

Key finding

There was no statistical difference (P = .88).

This study examined the impact of mobile phone text messaging on adherence to dietary and activity regimens in adults with diabetes, finding no significant differences in outcomes.

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 examined the impact of mobile phone text messaging on adherence to dietary and activity regimens in adults with diabetes, finding no significant differences in outcomes.

Clinical relevance

Understanding effective strategies for improving adherence to dietary and activity regimens is crucial for managing diabetes. This study highlights the need for further research into alternative methods, as the current approach using text messaging did not yield beneficial results.

Keep in mind

The intervention did not show significant effectiveness. The study may have limited generalizability due to sample characteristics. Potential confounding factors were not measured.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Eyitayo OO, Daniel TG, Anthony IA, Cassandra F. Effect of Mobile Phone Text Messaging on Adherence to Dietary and Activity Regimens Among Adults Living with Diabetes. Medicine. 2020;99(12):e18953. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000018953

View DOIView on PubMedView on PMC

Main Effects

Medication adherence showed no statistical difference (P = .88).

Dietary adherence increased nonsignificantly in both groups (P = .98).

Physical activity adherence also increased nonsignificantly (P = .99).

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 Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level, Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions, Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week), and 1 more.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Outcome

Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

Evidence topic

Physical Activity Levels

Primary intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Primary outcomes

  • Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level
  • Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions
  • Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Evidence topics

Physical Activity LevelsTreatment AdherenceDiabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Primary intervention

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion

Primary outcomes

Adjusted mean change in medication adherence levelBarriers to adherence in dietary interventionsPhysical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Evidence relationships

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

4
Evidence pairs
4
Relationships
4
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: 68

4

Related topics

4

Evidence pairs

514

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 4 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 3 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Add related evidence to your Evidence Tracker

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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Physical Activity Levels

Related evidence

Evidence topic

Physical Activity Levels

Save evidence

Evidence topic

Treatment Adherence

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

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

Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions

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

Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Proportion of participants with good medication adherence

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Proportion of participants with good medication adherence

SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion → Proportion of participants with good medication adherence

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

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • No significant difference in medication adherence (P = .88).
  • Nonsignificant increase in dietary adherence (P = .98).
  • Nonsignificant increase in physical activity adherence (P = .99).
who this applies

Who this applies to

  • Adults living with diabetes.
  • Individuals seeking to improve adherence to dietary and activity regimens.
keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • The study's findings may not apply to all diabetes populations.
  • Results indicate the need for alternative adherence strategies.
  • The lack of significant findings suggests further investigation is necessary.
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • The intervention did not show significant effectiveness.
  • The study may have limited generalizability due to sample characteristics.
  • Potential confounding factors were not measured.

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 Physical Activity Levels, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

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

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 Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Intervention: SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotionOutcome: Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

2 results

All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

Intervention: SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotionOutcome: Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

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 Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Outcome: Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

2 results

All studies measuring Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

Outcome: Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

1 results

Questions answered by this study

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

Do Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs improve physical activity levels?

Strong Evidence

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may improve physical activity levels.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.

Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.

11 supporting studies
View Full Evidence

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve adjusted mean change in medication adherence level?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion for adjusted mean change in medication adherence level.

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

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Adjusted mean change in medication adherence level

    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

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve barriers to adherence in dietary interventions?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion for barriers to adherence in dietary interventions.

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

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions

    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

Does SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion improve proportion of participants with good medication adherence?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion for proportion of participants with good medication adherence.

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

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Proportion of participants with good medication adherence

    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

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Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

Physical Activity Levels Evidence HubTreatment Adherence Evidence HubDiabetes Self-Management Education and Support Evidence HubDiabetes Technology Evidence Hub

Explore in Evidence Explorer

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All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Proportion of participants with good medication adherenceAll studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)All studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Adjusted mean change in medication adherence levelAll studies on SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion and Barriers to adherence in dietary interventions

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Read related research summaries.

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