Hypertensive patients’ readiness to use of mobile phones and other information technological modes for improvingtheir compliance to doctors’ advice in Karachi

Abstract

Objective:To determine the use of information technology (IT) & electronic media for improving compliance rate to doctors’ advice in hypertensive patients in Karachi.Methods:Total 400 persons (200 males & 200 females) were randomly selected in six districts of Karachi. Data was collected through a pretested questionnaire. Following was sample criteria: age above 15 years, living in Karachi and ambulatory. Persons admitted in a hospital, individuals who were doing some physical activity during survey e.g. exercise, labor work etc., individual in stressed condition, non-cooperative individuals – not willing to get BP checked and fill questionnaire, and pregnant women were excluded. Those who did not sign the consent form were also excluded. SPSS was used for data analysis and descriptive statistics was employed for sensitivity analysis.Results: For healthcare awareness, people look for health programs on radio and TV channels. Short Message Service (SMS) and phone are highly appreciated by patients for reminders. To increase compliance to doctors’ advice, less educated people prefer phone calls over SMS whereas educated individuals favor SMS. Although price of medicine has not emerged as a major contributing factor for non-compliance, discount on medicinal products is highly appreciated by the patients.Conclusion:The study concludes that there is a widespread awareness of high blood pressure in the sample population of Karachi e.g. 72.5%. People consider reminder message system i.e. Calls and Short Messaging Service (SMS) would help them in improving compliance to doctors’ advice.

Use of Mobile Phone in Healthcare: Readiness among Urban Population of Puducherry, India

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“…In the Bangalore study 89% preferred only call and in another study from Karachi, Pakistan among hypertensive patients, 64.6% preferred only call as a preferred option to receive health information. 4,9 In our study the proportion of people preferring only call was comparatively less and this may be due to the difference in the study population. The participants in the current study had, higher proportion of young participants, better education status and almost 40% were able to read and text message.…”

The effectiveness of e-& mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and healthy diets in developing countries: A systematic review

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Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of polyherbal formulation and its ingredients in cardiovascular disorders using rodents

“…Pakistan is one of the South Asian countries where around 18 million people at the age of fifteen and above are living with hypertension. Out of these, around 70% population is even unaware about the disease status, while only 3% successfully control blood pressure with regular medication [ 4 – 6 ]. Multiple antihypertensive therapeutic agents are available to combat this deadly disorder, however, their high cost and life-long use of the medication along with associated multiple adverse effects ultimately results in patient unaffordability and poor-compliance [ 7 ].…”