A Text-Messaging Approach to Improving Self-Management of Chronic Conditions among Boston’s Highest Utilizing Homeless Persons

SPRING 2017 RESEARCH INCUBATION AWARDEES

Pl: D. Keith McInnes, Health Law, Policy & Management, SPH
Co-Pls: Thomas Byrne, Social Welfare Policy, SSW

This project aims to develop text messaging interventions for homeless patients that will promote greater access to chronic disease self-management and outpatient care. To do so, the team will work with homeless patients to review the appropriateness of the text message language to increase relevance for the target population. After this phase, the text- messaging intervention will be tested on 60 patients, comparing outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient utilization, as well as health-related quality of life and patient activation.

This work is funded by a Digital Health Initiative Research Award made in June, 2017.