BACKGROUND Researchers and clinicians use text messages to collect data with the advantage of real time capture when compared with standard data collection methods. This article reviews project setup and management for successfully collecting patient-reported data through text messages. METHODS We review our experience enrolling over 2600 participants in six clinical trials that used text messages to relay information or collect data. We also reviewed the literature on text messages used for repeated data collection. We classify recommendations according to common themes: the text message, the data submitted and the phone used. RESULTS We present lessons learned and discuss how to create text message content, select a data collection platform with practical features, manage the data thoughtfully and consistently, and work with patients, participants and their phones to protect privacy. Researchers and clinicians should design text messages to include short, simple prompts and answer choices. They should decide whether and when to send reminders if participants do not respond and set parameters regarding when and how often to contact patients for missing data. Data collection platforms send, receive, and store messages. They can validate responses and send error messages. Researchers should develop a protocol to append and correct data in order to improve consistency with data handling. At the time of enrollment, researchers should ensure that participants can receive and respond to messages. Researchers should address privacy concerns and plan for service interruptions by obtaining alternate participant contact information and providing participants with a backup data collection method. CONCLUSIONS Careful planning and execution can reward clinicians and investigators with complete, timely and accurate data sets.

中文翻译：

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使用短信收集重复测量数据的最佳做法。

背景技术与标准数据收集方法相比，研究人员和临床医生使用文本消息来收集数据，具有实时捕获的优点。本文介绍了如何通过短信成功收集患者报告的数据的项目设置和管理。方法我们回顾了6项临床试验的2600多名参与者的经验，这些试验使用文本消息中继信息或收集数据。我们还回顾了有关用于重复数据收集的文本消息的文献。我们根据常见主题对建议分类：短信，提交的数据和使用的电话。结果我们将提供经验教训，并讨论如何创建文本消息内容，选择具有实用功能的数据收集平台，周到且一致地管理数据以及与患者合作，参与者及其手机以保护隐私。研究人员和临床医生应设计短信，以包含简短的提示和答案选择。他们应该决定是否以及何时发送提醒参与者是否不响应，并设置有关何时以及多长时间联系患者以获取丢失数据的参数。数据收集平台发送，接收和存储消息。他们可以验证响应并发送错误消息。研究人员应制定协议以附加和更正数据，以提高与数据处理的一致性。在注册时，研究人员应确保参与者可以接收和响应消息。研究人员应通过获取备用参与者联系信息并为参与者提供备份数据收集方法来解决隐私问题并计划服务中断。结论仔细的计划和执行可以为临床医生和研究人员提供完整，及时和准确的数据集。