Potential of Mobile Health Technology to Reduce Health Disparities in Underserved Communities

Veen, Tara van; Binz, Sophia; Muminovic, Meri; Chaudhry, Kaleem; Rose, Katie; Calo, Sean; Rammal, Jo-Ann; Miller, Joseph

doi:10.5811/westjem.2019.6.41911

Cited by 43 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This is particularly important given the low quality and low sustainability of some mobile health applications (39)(40)(41) and the varied mobile health readiness of older and less educated patients (23,28,29). Furthermore, the knowledge that most users stop mobile health application usage soon after initial use (42)(43)(44) suggests a need for additional health care professional education and support to help ensure that mobile health communications can lead to significant improvements in patient experience with home dialysis care (11). This study has important limitations and strengths.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mobile Health Readiness of People Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis and Home Dialysis

Hussein

Bennett

Pace

et al. 2020

CJASN

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Background and objectivesMobile health is the health care use of mobile devices, such as smartphones. Mobile health readiness is a prerequisite to successful implementation of mobile health programs. The aim of this study was to examine the status and correlates of mobile health readiness among individuals on dialysis.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsA cross-sectional 30-item questionnaire guided by the Khatun mobile health readiness conceptual model was distributed to individuals on dialysis from 21 in-center hemodialysis facilities and 14 home dialysis centers. The survey assessed the availability of devices and the internet, proficiency, and interest in using mobile health.ResultsIn total, 949 patients (632 hemodialysis and 317 home dialysis) completed the survey. Of those, 81% owned smartphones or other internet-capable devices, and 72% reported using the internet. The majority (70%) reported intermediate or advanced mobile health proficiency. The main reasons for using mobile health were appointments (56%), communication with health care personnel (56%), and laboratory results (55%). The main reported concerns with mobile health were privacy and security (18%). Mobile health proficiency was lower in older patients: compared with the 45- to 60-years group, respondents in age groups <45, 61–70, and >70 years had adjusted odds ratios of 5.04 (95% confidence interval, 2.23 to 11.38), 0.39 (95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.62), and 0.22 (95% confidence interval, 0.14 to 0.35), respectively. Proficiency was lower in participants with Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.31 to 0.75) and with less than college education (adjusted odds ratio for “below high school,” 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.16 and adjusted odds ratio for “high school only,” 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.18 to 0.39). Employment was associated with higher proficiency (adjusted odds ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 4.32). Although home dialysis was associated with higher proficiency in the unadjusted analyses, we did not observe this association after adjustment for other factors.ConclusionsThe majority of patients on dialysis surveyed were ready for, and proficient in, mobile health.Clinical Trial registry name and registration number: Dialysis mHealth Survey,NCT04177277

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mobile Health Readiness of People Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis and Home Dialysis

Hussein

Bennett

Pace

et al. 2020

CJASN

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Adopting health interventions using innovative technologies such as mobile health applications integrated with Bluetooth, global positioning system (GPS), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) techniques can significantly improve the delivery of healthcare services remotely while following preventive measures such as social distancing and home quarantine. [6][7][8] Likewise, telemedicine, virtual software, and virtual care are useful tools of information and communication technologies (ICT) for the remote treatment of COVID-19 patients. [9][10][11] These digital technologies are universal in scope and minimize the exposure of patients and physicians to the COVID-19 virus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Mobile Applications Available in the App and Google Play Stores Used During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Alanzi¹

2021

JMDH

117

108

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The objective of this paper was to review the functionalities and effectiveness of the free mobile health applications available in the Google Play and App stores used in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Singapore, the United Kingdom, USA, and India during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study adopted a systematic search strategy to identify the free mobile applications available in the App and Google Play stores related to the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the PRISMA flowchart of the search, only 12 applications met the inclusion criterion. Results: The 12 mobile applications that met the inclusion criterion were: Mawid, Tabaud, Tawakkalna, Sehha, Aarogya setu, TraceTogether, COVID safe, Immuni, COVID symptom study, COVID watch, NHS COVID-19, and PathCheck. The following features and functionalities of the apps were described: app overview (price, ratings, android, iOS, developer/ owner, country, status), health tools (user status-risk assessment, self-assessment, E-pass integration, test results reporting, online consultation, contact tracing), learning options (personalized notes, educational resources, COVID-19 information), communication tools (query resolution, appointments, social network, notifications), app design (data visualization, program plan), networking tools (location mapping-GPS, connectivity with other devices), and safety and security options (alerts, data protection). Also, the effectiveness of the apps was analyzed. Conclusion: The analysis revealed that various applications have been developed for different functions like contact tracing, awareness building, appointment booking, online consultation, etc. However, only a few applications have integrated various functions and features such as self-assessment, consultation, support and access to information. Also, most of the apps are focused on contact tracing, while very few are dedicated to raising awareness and sharing information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, the majority of applications rely on GPS and Bluetooth technologies for relevant functions. No apps were identified that had built-in social media features. It is suggested to design and develop an integrated mobile health application with most of the features and functionalities analyzed in this study.

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“…Our findings point to solutions to some of these challenges, particularly in the realm of telemedicine, which, as past studies indicate, patients are open to utilizing [26], and several examples of implementation demonstrate streamlined care and improved outcomes [27]. Furthermore, standardizing protocols through designation of more rural hospitals as trauma centers [4], or by training staff in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols, could help mitigate issues of high turnover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“Making It Work”: A Preliminary Mixed Methods Study of Rural Trauma Care Access and Resources in New Mexico

Carroll¹,

Garcia²,

Cassells³

et al. 2020

Cureus

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Introduction Patients in the rural western United States face challenges accessing trauma and surgical services and are more likely to succumb to their injuries. New Mexico, a rural and medically underresourced state, is a salient space to study these disparities. We examine how travel distance from trauma centers impacts injured patient outcomes and describe care delivery obstacles. Materials and Methods We conducted an explanatory mixed methods study by creating geospatial maps of New Mexico's trauma data, incorporating linear regression analyses on patient outcomes as a function of estimated travel distance from trauma centers. We also conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with trauma providers to illuminate and provide context for the geospatial findings utilizing a systematic, collaborative, iterative transcript analysis process. We constructed a conceptual framework describing rural trauma care delivery obstacles. Results Geospatial analyses revealed that most New Mexicans face long travel times to trauma centers. Comparing regression analyses using different data sources suggests that solely hospital-derived data may undercount rural trauma deaths. Interviews with 10 providers suggest that elements that may contribute to these findings include on-the-ground resource-based challenges and those related to broader healthcare systemsbased issues. Our conceptual framework denotes how these elements collectively may impact rural trauma outcomes and proposes potential solutions. Conclusions In addressing rural patients' needs, healthcare policy decision-makers should ensure that their datasets are comprehensive and inclusive. They must also take into account the particular challenges of underserved rural patients and providers who care for them by eliciting their perspectives, as presented in our conceptual framework.

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Potential of Mobile Health Technology to Reduce Health Disparities in Underserved Communities

Cited by 43 publications

References 9 publications

The Mobile Health Readiness of People Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis and Home Dialysis

The Mobile Health Readiness of People Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis and Home Dialysis

A Review of Mobile Applications Available in the App and Google Play Stores Used During the COVID-19 Outbreak

“Making It Work”: A Preliminary Mixed Methods Study of Rural Trauma Care Access and Resources in New Mexico

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