Adolescents' Perspective on Need of E-Health and M-Health Interventions for Establishing Healthy Lifestyles in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Adolescents accounts for 16% of Sri Lankan population of 20.4 million. Unhealthy lifestyles such as physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary habits, tobacco consumption, alcohol and other substance use are known risk factors for cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. Aim: Study assessed adolescents’ perception of the need, acceptability and suggestions on establishing healthy lifestyles among adolescents through e health and m health interventions using web-based platforms in Sri Lanka. Methods: Qualitative assessment using four focus group discussions (FGDs) among youth trainees of 15-19 years in Western Province of Sri Lanka in 2015. FGD guide was developed. Two facilitators conducted the discussions. Each focus group consisted of 9-10 trainees. Informed verbal-consent was obtained prior to the discussions. Privacy and confidentiality were ensured. Meetings were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed by identifying themes and categories using constant comparison. Results: All the trainees had a firm realization on the need of e health interventions including m health and Web-based platforms on adolescent health. FGDs revealed inadequacy skills and motivation on having healthy lifestyles among adolescents, lack of e sources with accurate information on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention in local languages and lack of awareness and motivation on available options for health promotion among adolescents. Suggested interventions were having adolescent health Website for promotion of healthy lifestyles in local languages, having interactive component incorporated into it, having computer games enabling healthy lifestyles, toll free hot lines and tele-medicine, raising awareness through social media and introduction of mobile apps on physical activity, healthy dietary habits and how to say no for tobacco, alcohol and other substances. They further highlighted to need of having mobile apps and Web based interventions for supporting cessations of tobacco, alcohol and other substances. They wanted to have free SMS and MMS services reminding them on healthy lifestyles, risk of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles and available services and facilities for having healthy lifestyles. Need of advertising about all available services for adolescents including e and m health interventions through targeting adolescents and youth in social media was pointed out. Need of adolescents participation in the whole process was highlighted. Conclusion: All the trainees perceived the need of having m health and e health interventions for establishing healthy lifestyles. Suggested interventions were: m health and e health interventions in adolescent friendly manner in all three languages, raising awareness on m and e health interventions, advertising on service availability, having hotlines and mobile apps and improving the quality of available services.