Text your doctor

Doctors could soon be using text messages to monitor patients without having to see them.

They will be able to send short questionnaires to the phones of recovering patients using software linked to the Internet. Patients will simply text their answers back in their own time.

The results will be gathered on a secure web page which will give doctors an overview of a patient's progress.

Any serious change will cause a flashing light to appear so those in serious need of help will get it fast.

Researchers tested the system on 97 cancer patients. They texted ten questions, asking them to rate symptoms such as weight loss, shortness of breath and sleep problems.

All of those who attempted to fill in the questionnaire did so successfully. 'This confirmed the user-friendliness of the system for people familiar with modern technologies,' said the scientists.

'The wide use of mobile phones and the Internet provides new methods for communication between doctor and patient.'

However, 42 per cent of the patients refused to take part in the trial because they were not used to texting.

The researchers from Milan said they hoped this problem could be overcome if patients got help from their families.

They also said other gadgets could be used in the scheme - known as Wireless Health Outcomes Monitoring System. 'We are investigating if we can offer it through palm computers and interactive voice responders,' they told journal BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.