Using SMS to Motivate Healthy Behavior

A few months ago I posted about using mobile technologies for health promotion, specifically a dedicated "Wellness Phone" from NTT & Mitsubishi. This gadget represents some impressive high tech wizardry but a real question if this technology might be a bit too futuristic.

There is however a much more effective way to use mobile tech for health promotion

What I am talking about is plain and simple text messaging. SMS works on most phones, extremely easy to use, does not require any advanced hardware (think sensors) and could be used to deliver health-related messages anytime and anywhere. Texting applications for health are still nascent, but developing quickly.

A new conference was just announced to promote exchange of ideas in Texting 4 Health

Hosted by Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab, the event is the first forum focused exclusively on how mobile text messaging can promote better health. Mark your calendars for February 29th, 2008, with optional workshops on Feb. 28 & March 1. I will be attending and covering.

Here is an outline of the conference program, covering most of the key topics:

• I. Intro to Texting 4 Health
• II. Public Health, Public Policy, SMS
• III. Changing Health Behavior via SMS
• IV. Physical Activity, Mobility, and Text Messaging
• V. How to design and launch a texting intervention
• VI. Showcase of Texting Applications
• VII. Envisioning the Future of Texting 4 Health

Simplicity and ubiquity of text messaging makes it a high-potential lever for influencing healthy behavior and disseminating education. Public agencies, health plans, providers, employers and community groups could all benefit from deploying a texting program.

Take a look at the conference site and consider attending.