Table 1 A checklist of best practices for managing texts, data, and phones

The Text Message

 Create a short and simply worded text

 Ask the question and list the possible responses in the same text

 Discourage open ended responses when aggregated data is desired

 Identify the preferred time to text

 Share the exact text language with the participant at enrollment

The Data

 Ensure the data platform is secure

 Minimize the transfer of sensitive information

 Validate responses, send error messages and recapture the data

 Send reminders when texts go unanswered

 Schedule staff to review the texted data regularly and contact participants to complete missing data

 Decide a priori how to manage missing data

 Prepare a data management protocol to append, correct, clean and order the data

The Phone

 Enroll the phone, not just the participant

 Plan for disconnections or interruptions in service

 Discuss sensitive situations such as phone sharing