A study has found “mixed” evidence for mobile technology’s effectiveness in persuading people to behave in a more healthy way, and in managing chronic disease.

It also highlighted the need for additional trials of mobile health services, particularly  in low and middle income countries.

The study was led by Caroline Free, a senior lecturer in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It was published in PLOS Medicine.

Specifically, the study points to SMS as increasing adherence to antiretroviral therapy in low-income countries and its use for anti-smoking campaigns in wealthy countries. Both provide “some support” for their wider usage.

But the effects of these two interventions in similar countries and their cost effectiveness must be better established, it said.

The researchers looked at 75 controlled trials of which 26 looked at using mobile services to change health behaviour and 59 at its used in disease management. The study characterised the trials as mostly of “low quality” and nearly all undertaken in high-income countries

A second study by the same team looked at how mobile technology can be used to improve health care delivery processes, which target healthcare providers or the communication between those providers and their patients. For instance, using text messaging to send test results or appointment reminders to patients.

It looked at 42 controlled trials although said none of the trials concerned were of “high quality” (meaning they had methodological problems likely to affect their accuracy, said the study). Nearly all were undertaken in high-income countries.

The study found the use of mobile technology in this area was “modestly effective” but highlights the need for more trials.

Some interventions using mobile phones “modestly improved” diagnosis and management, other interventions had a negative effect, for instance using cameraphone-based images for diagnosis.

Using SMS-based appointment reminders has “modest benefits”, which suggests wider implementation should be considered at least in high-income settings.

Generally researchers argue more tests are needed to establish what mobile technology can offer in this area.