(Credit: Dr. Richard Lester, University of British Columbia)

Text messaging, which often gets a bad rap for its addictive, misanthropic properties, might just be a valuable tool for health management. As reported by a study headed by University of British Columbia researcher Dr. Richard Lester, text messaging is the centre of a support system that improves the chances of staying healthy for Kenyans with HIV.

According to Lester’s study, patients who received a once weekly check-in delivered through a cell phone SMS text message—simple messages like “how are you”—were 12 per cent more likely to report a low, undetectable level of the HIV virus after a year of antiretroviral (ART) treatment.

How can texting lead to moderated levels of HIV?

When used properly, ART medication can help the HIV virus to remain dormant within patients, thus lowering the risk of transmission to others, reducing the spread of . . . → Read More: Texting Treatment: SMS Messaging Helps Kenyans with HIV Stay Healthy for Longer