Development of a text message intervention designed to promote safe contact lens wear

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Behavioral Science
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Poor hygiene compliance among contact lens wearers increases corneal infection risk.
• Text message interventions are effective for behavior change in healthcare.
• This study focused on co-designing a text message intervention for contact lens hygiene.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design and evaluate a text message intervention targeting contact lens hygiene compliance.
• To assess user satisfaction and discontinuation rates.
• To develop optimized, semi-personalized text message sequences.

Main Methods:

• Drafting messages based on compliance advice and behavior change theory.
• Consulting with patient advocates, health psychology experts, and eyecare practitioners for feedback.
• Conducting focus groups with lay contact lens wearers for comprehension and relevance.
• Assessing and modifying messages for readability (Flesch-Kincaid) and pilot testing sequences.

Main Results:

• 95 initial messages were created, with 62% modified based on expert and user feedback.
• Focus groups emphasized engagement, education, and simplification, leading to further message refinement.
• Readability was significantly improved, with 88% assessed as fairly easy or better.
• 17 text message sequences were created and pilot tested, establishing delivery processes.

Conclusions:

• Co-designing and evaluating text messages for contact lens hygiene is feasible.
• A library of 88 optimized text messages was developed.
• These messages were formed into semi-personalized sequences for intervention delivery.