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Did you know? The effect of SMS reminders on health screening uptake in Indonesia

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  • Marcus, Maja-Emilia
  • Reuter, Anna
  • Rogge, Lisa
  • Vollmer, Sebastian

Abstract

While the burden of non-communicable diseases is rising in low- and middle-income countries, the uptake of screening for these diseases remains low. We conducted a community-based RCT in Indonesia to assess whether personalized and targeted text messages can increase the demand for existing public screening services for diabetes and hypertension in the at-risk population. Our intervention increased screening uptake by approximately 6.6 percentage points compared to the pure control group. Among those, who received and read the messages, the effect size is 17 percentage points. The intervention appears to work through a reminder rather than a knowledge effect. We conclude that text messages can be a cheap and easily scalable tool to reduce testing gaps in a middle-income country setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus, Maja-Emilia & Reuter, Anna & Rogge, Lisa & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2021. "Did you know? The effect of SMS reminders on health screening uptake in Indonesia," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242404, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc21:242404
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eliana Chavarría & Farah Diba & Maja E. Marcus & Marthoenis & Anna Reuter & Lisa Rogge & Sebastian Vollmer, 2021. "Knowing Versus Doing: Protective Health Behaviour Against COVID-19 in Aceh, Indonesia," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(8), pages 1245-1266, August.
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    5. Abhijit Banerjee & Marcella Alsan & Emily Breza & Arun G. Chandrasekhar & Abhijit Chowdhury & Esther Duflo & Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham & Benjamin A. Olken, 2020. "Messages on COVID-19 Prevention in India Increased Symptoms Reporting and Adherence to Preventive Behaviors Among 25 Million Recipients with Similar Effects on Non-recipient Members of Their Communiti," NBER Working Papers 27496, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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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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