Abstract
BackgroundWith the availability of low-cost mobile devices and the ease of internet access, mobile health (mHealth) is digitally revolutionizing the health sector even in resource-constrained settings. It is however necessary to assess end-user perceptions before deploying potential interventions.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the mobile phone usage patterns and the acceptability of mobile phone support during care and treatment in patients with tuberculosis (TB) in South India.MethodsThis exploratory study was conducted at an urban private tertiary care teaching hospital and nearby public primary-level health care facilities in Bangalore, South India. We recruited 185 patients with TB through consecutive sampling. Subsequent to written informed consent, participants responded to an interviewer-administered pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, phone usage patterns, and the benefits of using of mobile phone technology to improve health outcomes and treatment adherence. Frequency, mean, median, and SD or interquartile range were used to describe the data. Bivariate associations were assessed between demographics, clinical details, phone usage, and mHealth communication preferences using the chi-square test and odds ratios. Associations with a P value ≤.20 were included in a logistic regression model. A P value of <.05 was considered significant.ResultsOf the 185 participants, 151 (81.6%) used a mobile phone, and half of them owned a smartphone. The primary use of the mobile phone was to communicate over voice calls (147/151, 97.4%). The short message service (SMS) text messaging feature was used by only 66/151 (43.7%) mobile phone users. A total of 87 of the 151 mobile phone users (57.6%) knew how to use the camera. Only 41/151 (27.2%) mobile phone users had used their mobile phones to communicate with their health care providers. Although receiving medication reminders via mobile phones was acceptable to all participants, 2 participants considered repeated reminders as an intrusion of their privacy. A majority of the participants (137/185, 74.1%) preferred health communications via voice calls. Of the total participants, 123/185 (66.5%) requested reminders to be sent only at specific times during the day, 22/185 (11.9%) suggested reminders should synchronize with their prescribed medication schedule, whereas 40/185 (21.6%) did not have any time preferences. English literacy was associated with a preference for SMS in comparison with voice calls. Most participants (142/185, 76.8%) preferred video-based directly observed treatment when compared with in-person directly observed treatment.ConclusionsAlthough mobile phones for supporting health and treatment adherence were acceptable to patients with TB, mHealth interventions should consider language, mode of communication, and preferred timing for communication to improve uptake.
Highlights
World tuberculosis (TB) surveillance estimates that 10 million people are either diagnosed or relapse with TB every year [1]
Conclusions: mobile phones for supporting health and treatment adherence were acceptable to patients with TB, mobile health (mHealth) interventions should consider language, mode of communication, and preferred timing for communication to improve uptake. (JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019;7(4):e11687) doi:10.2196/11687
This study sought to assess whether communication via mobile phones could be an acceptable form of health care delivery in the context of patients with TB
Summary
World tuberculosis (TB) surveillance estimates that 10 million people are either diagnosed or relapse with TB every year [1]. To address the burden of TB globally, the World Health Organization introduced the directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) strategy in 1992 [3]. DOTS comprises the following 5 elements: (1) political will for TB control, (2) case finding through quality diagnostics, (3) regular supply of antitubercular treatment (ATT), (4) short-course chemotherapy, which is the directly observed treatment (DOT) and, (5) a reliable TB information system [3]. The RNTCP provides ATT at no cost to patients with TB. As it implements DOTS, patients are required to visit a health care provider and swallow their medication under observation [4]. The alternative is for patients with TB to avail treatment through the private health care sector, at a cost. It is necessary to assess end-user perceptions before deploying potential interventions
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