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The effect of SMS reminders on health screening uptake: A randomized experiment in Indonesia

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  • Marcus, Maja E.
  • Reuter, Anna
  • Rogge, Lisa
  • Vollmer, Sebastian

Abstract

As cardiovascular diseases (CVD) become the leading cause of death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this raises new challenges for health systems. Regular screening is a key measure to manage CVD risk, but the uptake of such services remains low. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Indonesia to assess whether personalized and targeted text messages increase the usage of public screening services for diabetes and hypertension in the at-risk population. Our intervention increased screening uptake by 6.6 percentage points. We show that text messages can be effective in the context of a relatively new disease burden in LMICs, where population responses may still be shaped by low salience and missing screening routines.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus, Maja E. & Reuter, Anna & Rogge, Lisa & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2024. "The effect of SMS reminders on health screening uptake: A randomized experiment in Indonesia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:227:y:2024:i:c:s0167268124003299
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106715
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health; Noncommunicable diseases; Information; Health systems; Screening uptake; mHealth; Text message reminder;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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