Community-level text messaging for 2009 H1N1 prevention in China.

BACKGROUND: Although patients worldwide increasingly are using mobile phone text messaging (SMS) for clinical care- quality data are sparse on the community-level effectiveness of SMS to prevent and control disease. PURPOSE: To determine SMS effectiveness in improving 2009 H1N1 knowledge- attitudes- behaviors- and self-reported outcomes and to assess community SMS acceptability. METHODS: A program evaluation of Shanghai- China's SMS system using a single-blinded- randomized-controlled method was conducted in 2010 and results were analyzed in 2010-2011. Randomly selected community residents who agreed to participate were assigned to receive 3 weeks of either 2009 H1N1 prevention and control or tobacco-cessation messages. Assessments were made of 2009 H1N1 knowledge- attitudes- behaviors- and self-reported influenza-like illness before and after sending messages to participants. Acceptability of SMS also was assessed. RESULTS: Of 1992 respondents- those receiving 2009 H1N1 messages had higher scores measuring 2