Willingness to Receive mHealth Messages Among Diabetic Patients at Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital: Implications for Digital Health

Abstract

Background The growing access and use of mobile technology provide new tools for diabetic care and management. Mobile-based technology (mHealth) is considered as a useful tool to deliver healthcare services as a makeshift alternative for consultations and follow-up of diabetic patients. Therefore, this study aimed to scrutinize the willingness to receive mHealth messages and its associated factors among diabetic patients at Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital (MTUTH). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among two hundred thirty-three diabetic patients. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Epidata manager and SPSS software were used to enter and analyze the data, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify the independent factors associated with patients' willingness to receive mHealth messages. Results Two hundred and thirty-three patients participated in this study with a 95% response rate. Majority of the patients (213, 91.4%) had a mobile phone. Among those who had mobile phones, 59.1%, (95% CI: 48–64) of patients were willing to receive mHealth messages from providers, if they were offered the opportunity. In the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, monthly income >3000 ETB (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI (1.36–3.81)), owning smartphone (AOR = 3.85; 95% CI (1.67–4.89)), internet access in their mobile phone (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI (1.42–4.61)), perceived usefulness (AOR = 4.66; 95% CI (2.38–6.83)) and perceived ease to use (AOR = 3.87; 95% CI (1.57–5.46)) were identified as significant factors associated with diabetic patients’ willingness to receive mHealth messages. Conclusion A high proportion of patients who had mobile phones were willing to receive mHealth messages. Monthly income, type of mobile phone, access to the internet on the mobile phone, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness were associated with willingness to receive mHealth messages. Therefore, focusing on these factors could provide insight for designing and implementing mHealth messages for diabetic patients.

Willingness to Receive mHealth Services Among Patients with Diabetes on Chronic Follow-up in Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia: Multicenter Mixed-Method Study

“…In this study, 74.5% of patients with diabetes who had access to a mobile phone were willing to receive mHealth services, which is comparable to a study done on patients with diabetes in northwestern Ethiopia (70.5%) 23 and Nigeria (72.6%). 21 However, it is higher than studies conducted on patients with diabetes in southern part of Ethiopia (59.1%), 31 chronic disease patients in India (60%), 30 and patients with diabetes in northern Ethiopia (47.1%). 32 The discrepancy could be due to differences in socio-economic and digital technology awareness among study participants.…”

“…Additionally, access to mobile phones in this study is lower than in studies conducted on HIV/AIDS patients in northwest Ethiopia (85.5%), patients with diabetes in southern Ethiopia (91.4%), chronic disease patients in India (81.5%), and patients with diabetes in Nigeria (97.3%). 21,[29][30][31] This discrepancy may result from regional variations in socioeconomic level, health literacy, and the acceptance of technology's positive effects on human health.…”

Willingness of diabetes mellitus patients to use mHealth applications and its associated factors for self-care management in a low-income country: an input for digital health implementation

“…Data were gathered using standardised, pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaires that were adapted from available research 1 5 6 8 14–17. The questionnaire contains sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and behavioural characteristics, mobile pattern utilisation and perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and willingness to use mHealth applications, which were adapted from Davis’s study 19.…”

“…To use mHealth technologies for managing and caring for diabetics, it is critical to assess the level of the patient’s willingness and identify factors for using mobile health applications. Accordingly, factors were identified, such as sociodemographic factors (age, gender, educational status, place of residence) 1 5 6 8 14–17. The technology acceptance model; and the theory of reasoned action, state the adoption of new technology is dependent on the user’s willingness or intention, which is influenced by attitude, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness 14 16 17…”

“…Accordingly, factors were identified, such as sociodemographic factors (age, gender, educational status, place of residence) 1 5 6 8 14–17. The technology acceptance model; and the theory of reasoned action, state the adoption of new technology is dependent on the user’s willingness or intention, which is influenced by attitude, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness 14 16 17…”