SCALE-UP Counts program shows text messaging can be an effective tool for public health

Reviewed by Megan Craig, M.Sc.Aug 24 2023 This analysis, led by Yelena Wu, PhD, investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Utah , and David Wetter, PhD, MS, investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the department of population health sciences at the U, received support from RADx-Underserved Populations and funding from the National Institute of Health .

Wu's research is typically focused on cancer prevention in children, teens, and young adults. However, during the pandemic, along with Wetter, Adam Hersh, MD, PhD, Guilherme Del Fiol, MD, PhD, Kim Kaphingst, ScD, Jonathan Chipman, PhD, and Ben Haaland, PhD, she used her expertise to advise local K-12 schools on COVID-19 testing policies and logistics.

Text messaging and health navigation are feasible ways to reach staff in K-12 schools to provide health screening messages. We found that 99% of staff had a valid cell phone number for the program, and fewer than 4% chose to opt out of the program. At the time of these analyses, four months after the program started, 19% of staff had engaged with the SCALE-UP Counts system in some way.

Related StoriesWu's team will continue to evaluate the reach and engagement of the SCALE-UP program, as well as the cost-effectiveness of using texting to communicate health information to large groups of people.

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Study shows technology boosts public health programsAn examination of the SCALE-UP Counts program was recently published in the journal Pediatrics. This analysis was led by Yelena Wu, Ph.D., investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Utah (the U), and David Wetter, Ph.D., MS, investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the department of population health sciences at the U.
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