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Kibria GMA, Ahmed S, Khan IA, Fernández-Niño JA, Vecino-Ortiz A, Ali J, Pariyo G, Kaufman M, Sen A, Basu S, Gibson D. Developing digital tools for health surveys in low- and middle-income countries: Comparing findings of two mobile phone surveys with a nationally representative in-person survey in Bangladesh. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002053. [PMID: 37498841 PMCID: PMC10374008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factor data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are inadequate, mostly due to the cost and burden of collecting in-person population-level estimates. High-income countries regularly use phone-based surveys, and with increasing mobile phone subscription in developing countries, mobile phone surveys (MPS) could complement in-person surveys in LMICs. We compared the representativeness and prevalence estimates of two MPS (i.e., interactive voice response (IVR) and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI)) with a nationally representative household survey in Bangladesh-the STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPs) 2018. This cross-sectional study included 18-69-year-old respondents. CATI and IVR recruitments were done by random digit dialing, while STEPs used multistage cluster sampling design. The prevalence of NCD risk factors related to tobacco, alcohol, diet, and hypertension was reported and compared by prevalence differences (PD) and prevalence ratios (PR). We included 2355 (57% males), 1942 (62% males), and 8185 (47% males) respondents in the CATI, IVR, and STEPs, respectively. CATI (28%) and IVR (52%) had a higher proportion of secondary/above-educated people than STEPs (13%). Most prevalence estimates differed by survey mode; however, CATI estimates were closer to STEPs than IVR. For instance, in CATI, IVR, and STEPs, respectively, the prevalence was 21.4%, 17.9%, and 23.5% for current smoking; and 1.6%, 2.2%, and 1.5% for alcohol drinking in past month. Compared to STEPs, the PD ranged from '-56.6% to 0.4%' in CATI and '-41.0% to 8.4%' in IVR; the PR ranged from '0.3 to 1.1' in CATI and '0.3 to 1.6' in IVR. There were some differences and some similarities in NCD indicators produced by MPS and STEPs with differences likely due to differences in socioeconomic characteristics between survey participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulam Muhammaed Al Kibria
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Saifuddin Ahmed
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Iqbal Ansary Khan
- Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Julián A Fernández-Niño
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Andres Vecino-Ortiz
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Joseph Ali
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - George Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Michelle Kaufman
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Aninda Sen
- Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sunada Basu
- Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dustin Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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Kibria GMA, Nayeem J. Trends and factors associated with mobile phone ownership among women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001889. [PMID: 37205644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite a significant increase in mobile phone ownership over the past few decades, this remains low among women in many developing countries, including Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study analyzed Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014 and 2017-18 data to investigate the prevalence (with 95% confidence intervals [CI]), trends, and factors associated with mobile phone ownership. We included data of 17854 and 20082 women from BDHS 2014 and BDHS 2017-18, respectively. Participants' mean age was 30.9 (standard error [SE]: 0.09) and 31.4 (SE: 0.08) years in 2014 and 2017-18, respectively. The overall ownership was 48.1% (95% CI: 46.4%-49.9%) in 2014 and 60.1% (95% CI: 58.8%-61.4%) in 2017-18. From 2014 to 2017-18, the prevalence of mobile phone ownership increased according to most background characteristics, especially for those with lower ownership in 2014. For instance, about 25.7% (95% CI: 23.8%-27.6%) women without any formal education owned a mobile phone in 2014, the prevalence increased to 37.5% (95% CI: 35.5%-39.6%) among them in 2017-18. The following factors were associated with ownership in both surveys: age, number of children, work status, education level of women and their husbands, household wealth status, religion, and division of residence. For instance, in 2014, compared to women with no formal education, women with primary, secondary, and college/above education, respectively, had the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.8 (95% CI: 1.7-2.0), 3.2 (95% CI: 2.9-3.6), and 9.0 (95% CI: 7.4-11.0), and in 2017-18 these AORs were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.5-1.9), 2.5 (95% CI: 2.2-2.8), and 5.9 (95% CI: 5.0-7.0). The ownership of mobile phones has increased, and the socioeconomic differences in ownership have declined. However, some women groups had consistently lower ownership, especially women with low education level, low educated husbands, and low wealth status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Worges M, Kamala B, Yukich J, Chacky F, Lazaro S, Dismas C, Aroun S, Ibrahim R, Khamis M, Gitanya MP, Mwingizi D, Metcalfe H, Bantanuka W, Deku S, Dadi D, Serbantez N, Loll D, Koenker H. Estimation of bed net coverage indicators in Tanzania using mobile phone surveys: a comparison of sampling approaches. Malar J 2022; 21:379. [PMID: 36496423 PMCID: PMC9735037 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04408-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Threats to maintaining high population access with effective bed nets persist due to errors in quantification, bed net wear and tear, and inefficiencies in distribution activities. Monitoring bed net coverage is therefore critical, but usually occurs every 2-3 years through expensive, large-scale household surveys. Mobile phone-based survey methodologies are emerging as an alternative to household surveys and can provide rapid estimates of coverage, however, little research on varied sampling approaches has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS A nationally and regionally representative cross-sectional mobile phone survey was conducted in early 2021 in Tanzania with focus on bed net ownership and access. Half the target sample was contacted through a random digit dial methodology (n = 3500) and the remaining half was reached through a voluntary opt-in respondent pool (n = 3500). Both sampling approaches used an interactive voice response survey. Standard RBM-MERG bed net indicators and AAPOR call metrics were calculated. In addition, the results of the two sampling approaches were compared. RESULTS Population access (i.e., the percent of the population that could sleep under a bed net, assuming one bed net per two people) varied from a regionally adjusted low of 48.1% (Katavi) to a high of 65.5% (Dodoma). The adjusted percent of households that had a least one bed net ranged from 54.8% (Pemba) to 75.5% (Dodoma); the adjusted percent of households with at least one bed net per 2 de facto household population ranged from 35.9% (Manyara) to 55.7% (Dodoma). The estimates produced by both sampling approaches were generally similar, differing by only a few percentage points. An analysis of differences between estimates generated from the two sampling approaches showed minimal bias when considering variation across the indicator for households with at least one bed net per two de facto household population. CONCLUSION The results generated by this survey show that overall bed net access in the country appears to be lower than target thresholds. The results suggest that bed net distribution is needed in large sections of the country to ensure that coverage levels remain high enough to sustain protection against malaria for the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Worges
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Tropical Health, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Benjamin Kamala
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Joshua Yukich
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Tropical Health, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Frank Chacky
- Tanzania National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Lazaro
- Tanzania National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Charles Dismas
- Tanzania National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Sijenun Aroun
- Tanzania National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Raya Ibrahim
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Mwinyi Khamis
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | | | - Deodatus Mwingizi
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | - David Dadi
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Naomi Serbantez
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dana Loll
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Hannah Koenker
- USAID Tanzania Vector Control Activity, Tropical Health, Baltimore, MD USA
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Chasukwa M, Choko AT, Muthema F, Nkhalamba MM, Saikolo J, Tlhajoane M, Reniers G, Dulani B, Helleringer S. Collecting mortality data via mobile phone surveys: A non-inferiority randomized trial in Malawi. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000852. [PMID: 36962430 PMCID: PMC10021539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite the urgent need for timely mortality data in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, mobile phone surveys rarely include questions about recent deaths. Such questions might a) be too sensitive, b) take too long to ask and/or c) generate unreliable data. We assessed the feasibility of mortality data collection using mobile phone surveys in Malawi. We conducted a non-inferiority trial among a random sample of mobile phone users. Participants were allocated to an interview about their recent economic activity or recent deaths in their family. In the group that was asked mortality-related questions, half of the respondents completed an abridged questionnaire, focused on information necessary to calculate recent mortality rates, whereas the other half completed an extended questionnaire that also included questions about symptoms and healthcare. The primary trial outcome was the cooperation rate, i.e., the number of completed interviews divided by the number of mobile subscribers invited to participate. Secondary outcomes included self-reports of negative feelings and stated intentions to participate in future interviews. We called more than 7,000 unique numbers and reached 3,054 mobile subscribers. In total, 1,683 mobile users were invited to participate. The difference in cooperation rates between those asked to complete a mortality-related interview and those asked to answer questions about economic activity was 0.9 percentage points (95% CI = -2.3, 4.1), which satisfied the non-inferiority criterion. The mortality questionnaire was non-inferior to the economic questionnaire on all secondary outcomes. Collecting mortality data required 2 to 4 additional minutes per reported death, depending on the inclusion of questions about symptoms and healthcare. More than half of recent deaths elicited during mobile phone interviews had not been registered with the National Registration Bureau. Including mortality-related questions in mobile phone surveys is feasible. It might help strengthen the surveillance of mortality in countries with deficient civil registration systems. Registration: AEA RCT Registry, #0008065 (14 September 2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Chasukwa
- Institute of Public Opinion and Research, Zomba, Malawi
- Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
| | - Augustine T. Choko
- Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Funny Muthema
- Institute of Public Opinion and Research, Zomba, Malawi
| | | | - Jacob Saikolo
- Institute of Public Opinion and Research, Zomba, Malawi
| | - Malebogo Tlhajoane
- Program in Social Research and Public Policy, Division of Social Science, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Georges Reniers
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Boniface Dulani
- Institute of Public Opinion and Research, Zomba, Malawi
- Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
| | - Stéphane Helleringer
- Program in Social Research and Public Policy, Division of Social Science, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Sociology, New York University, New York, United States of America
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Muzenda T, Kamkuemah M, Battersby J, Oni T. Assessing adolescent diet and physical activity behaviour, knowledge and awareness in low- and middle-income countries: a systematised review of quantitative epidemiological tools. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:975. [PMID: 35568826 PMCID: PMC9107740 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13160-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Quantitative epidemiological tools are routinely used to assess adolescent diet and physical activity (PA) constructs (behaviour, knowledge, and awareness) as risk factors for non-communicable diseases. This study sought to synthesize evidence on the quantitative epidemiological tools that have been used to assess adolescent diet and PA constructs in low to middle-income countries (LMIC). METHODS A systematised review was conducted using 3 databases (EbscoHost, Scopus and Web of Science). RESULTS We identified 292 LMIC studies assessing adolescent diet and PA. Identified studies predominantly explored behavioural (90%) constructs with a paucity of studies investigating knowledge and awareness. The majority of studies used subjective (94%) and self-administered (78%) tools. Only 39% of LMIC studies used tools validated for their contexts. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the need for more contextual tools for assessing adolescent diet and PA in LMICs. Diet and PA measurement tools used in future research will need to incorporate measures of knowledge and awareness for a more comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of diet and PA in adolescents. Furthermore, there is a need for more evidence on the reliability and validity of these tools for use, in both cross sectional and longitudinal studies, in LMIC contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trish Muzenda
- Global Diet and Physical Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK. .,Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
| | - Monika Kamkuemah
- Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Jane Battersby
- African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa
| | - Tolu Oni
- Global Diet and Physical Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.,Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
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Gibson DG, Kibria GMA, Pariyo GW, Ahmed S, Ali J, Labrique AB, Khan IA, Rutebemberwa E, Flora MS, Hyder AA. Promised and Lottery Airtime Incentives to Improve Interactive Voice Response Survey Participation Among Adults in Bangladesh and Uganda: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e36943. [PMID: 35532997 PMCID: PMC9127645 DOI: 10.2196/36943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increased mobile phone penetration allows the interviewing of respondents using interactive voice response surveys in low- and middle-income countries. However, there has been little investigation of the best type of incentive to obtain data from a representative sample in these countries. Objective We assessed the effect of different airtime incentives options on cooperation and response rates of an interactive voice response survey in Bangladesh and Uganda. Methods The open-label randomized controlled trial had three arms: (1) no incentive (control), (2) promised airtime incentive of 50 Bangladeshi Taka (US $0.60; 1 BDT is approximately equivalent to US $0.012) or 5000 Ugandan Shilling (US $1.35; 1 UGX is approximately equivalent to US $0.00028), and (3) lottery incentive (500 BDT and 100,000 UGX), in which the odds of winning were 1:20. Fully automated random-digit dialing was used to sample eligible participants aged ≥18 years. The risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals for primary outcomes of response and cooperation rates were obtained using log-binomial regression. Results Between June 14 and July 14, 2017, a total of 546,746 phone calls were made in Bangladesh, with 1165 complete interviews being conducted. Between March 26 and April 22, 2017, a total of 178,572 phone calls were made in Uganda, with 1248 complete interviews being conducted. Cooperation rates were significantly higher for the promised incentive (Bangladesh: 39.3%; RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.24-1.55, P<.001; Uganda: 59.9%; RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.33-1.62, P<.001) and the lottery incentive arms (Bangladesh: 36.6%; RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15-1.45, P<.001; Uganda: 54.6%; RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.21-1.48, P<.001) than those for the control arm (Bangladesh: 28.4%; Uganda: 40.9%). Similarly, response rates were significantly higher for the promised incentive (Bangladesh: 26.5%%; RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14-1.39, P<.001; Uganda: 41.2%; RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16-1.39, P<.001) and lottery incentive arms (Bangladesh: 24.5%%; RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.29, P=.002; Uganda: 37.9%%; RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.29, P=.001) than those for the control arm (Bangladesh: 21.0%; Uganda: 32.4%). Conclusions Promised or lottery airtime incentives improved survey participation and facilitated a large sample within a short period in 2 countries. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03773146; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03773146
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Saifuddin Ahmed
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joseph Ali
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Iqbal Ansary Khan
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Elizeus Rutebemberwa
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Adnan Ali Hyder
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington DC, MD, United States
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Alamnia TT, Tesfaye W, Kelly M. The effectiveness of text message delivered interventions for weight loss in developing countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13339. [PMID: 34519151 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in mobile technologies have provided an opportunity to disseminate health information on a variety of health conditions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that text messaging helps people to lose weight, but the effectiveness of interventions varies between studies. Thus, this review aimed to (1) identify RCTs that used text messages for overweight management, (2) identify components of the interventions, and (3) test their effectiveness. PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Quality scores for selected articles were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for interventional studies. The effectiveness of the interventions was tested using random effect models. Twelve studies that met inclusion criteria were included in this review. Ten of the included studies reported that text message interventions had a significant effect on weight loss. The pooled mean difference in body mass index (BMI) change after the intervention was -0.43 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval, - 0.63 to - 0.23 kg/m2 ). Synthesis of the included studies provides evidence that (1) regular text messages; (2) interventions targeting weight monitoring, diet habit, and physical activity; and (3) the use of behavior change techniques led to significant weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilahun Tewabe Alamnia
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,College of Medical and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Wubshet Tesfaye
- Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Matthew Kelly
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Greenleaf A, Mwima G, Lethoko M, Conkling M, Keefer G, Chang C, McLeod N, Maruyama H, Chen Q, Farley S, Low A. Participatory surveillance of COVID-19 in Lesotho via weekly calls: Protocol for cell phone data collection. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e31236. [PMID: 34351866 PMCID: PMC8478051 DOI: 10.2196/31236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The increase in cell phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) has created an opportunity for low-cost, rapid data collection by calling participants on their cell phones. Cell phones can be mobilized for a myriad of data collection purposes, including surveillance. In LMIC, cell phone–based surveillance has been used to track Ebola, measles, acute flaccid paralysis, and diarrheal disease, as well as noncommunicable diseases. Phone-based surveillance in LMIC is a particularly pertinent, burgeoning approach in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory surveillance via cell phone could allow governments to assess burden of disease and complements existing surveillance systems. Objective We describe the protocol for the LeCellPHIA (Lesotho Cell Phone PHIA) project, a cell phone surveillance system that collects weekly population-based data on influenza-like illness (ILI) in Lesotho by calling a representative sample of a recent face-to-face survey. Methods We established a phone-based surveillance system to collect ILI symptoms from approximately 1700 participants who had participated in a recent face-to-face survey in Lesotho, the Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) Survey. Of the 15,267 PHIA participants who were over 18 years old, 11,975 (78.44%) consented to future research and provided a valid phone number. We followed the PHIA sample design and included 342 primary sampling units from 10 districts. We randomly selected 5 households from each primary sampling unit that had an eligible participant and sampled 1 person per household. We oversampled the elderly, as they are more likely to be affected by COVID-19. A 3-day Zoom training was conducted in June 2020 to train LeCellPHIA interviewers. Results The surveillance system launched July 1, 2020, beginning with a 2-week enrollment period followed by weekly calls that will continue until September 30, 2022. Of the 11,975 phone numbers that were in the sample frame, 3020 were sampled, and 1778 were enrolled. Conclusions The surveillance system will track COVID-19 in a resource-limited setting. The novel approach of a weekly cell phone–based surveillance system can be used to track other health outcomes, and this protocol provides information about how to implement such a system. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/31236
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Greenleaf
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
| | - Gerald Mwima
- ICAP at Columbia University - Lesotho, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Maseru, LS
| | - Molibeli Lethoko
- ICAP at Columbia University - Lesotho, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Maseru, LS
| | - Martha Conkling
- Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, US
| | - George Keefer
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
| | - Christiana Chang
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
| | - Natasha McLeod
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
| | - Haruka Maruyama
- ICAP at Columbia University - Tanzania, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Dar es Salaam, TZ
| | - Qixuan Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, US
| | - Shannon Farley
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
| | - Andrea Low
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, New York, US
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Ashigbie PG, Rockers PC, Laing RO, Cabral HJ, Onyango MA, Mboya J, Arends D, Wirtz VJ. Phone-based monitoring to evaluate health policy and program implementation in Kenya. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:444-453. [PMID: 33724372 PMCID: PMC8128015 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring and evaluating policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries are often difficult because of the lack of routine data. High mobile phone ownership in these countries presents an opportunity for efficient data collection through telephone interviews. This study examined the feasibility of collecting data on medicines through telephone interviews in Kenya. Data on the availability and prices of medicines at 137 health facilities and 639 patients were collected in September 2016 via in-person interviews. Between December 2016 and December 2017, monthly telephone interviews were conducted with health facilities and patients. An unannounced in-person interview was conducted with respondents to validate the telephone interview within 24 h. A bottom-up itemization costing approach was used to estimate the costs of telephone and in-person data collection. In-depth interviews were conducted with data collectors and respondents to explore their perceptions on both modes of data collection. The level of agreement between data on medicines availability collected through phone and in-person interviews was strong at the health facility level [kappa = 0.90; confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.92] and moderate at the household level (kappa = 0.50, CI 0.39–0.60). Price data from telephone and in-person interviews showed strong intra-class correlation at health facilities [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.96] and moderate intra-class correlation at households (ICC = 0.47). The cost per phone interview at health facilities and households were $19.73 and $16.86, respectively, compared to $186.20 for a baseline in-person interview. Participants considered telephone interviews to be more convenient. In countries with high cell phone penetration, telephone data collection should be considered in monitoring and evaluating public health programs especially at health facilities. Additional strategies may be needed to optimize this mode of data collection at the household level. Variations in cell phone ownership, telecommunication network and data collection costs across different settings may limit the generalizability of the findings from this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Ashigbie
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Peter C Rockers
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Richard O Laing
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA.,Faculty of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
| | - Howard J Cabral
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Monica A Onyango
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - John Mboya
- Innovations for Poverty Action, Sandalwood Lane, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniella Arends
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and School of Pharmacy, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Veronika J Wirtz
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Vecino-Ortiz AI, Nagarajan M, Katumba KR, Akhter S, Tweheyo R, Gibson DG, Ali J, Rutebemberwa E, Khan IA, Labrique A, Pariyo GW. A cost study for mobile phone health surveys using interactive voice response for assessing risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. Popul Health Metr 2021; 19:32. [PMID: 34183013 PMCID: PMC8240284 DOI: 10.1186/s12963-021-00258-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This is the first study to examine the costs of conducting a mobile phone survey (MPS) through interactive voice response (IVR) to collect information on risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCD) in three low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); Bangladesh, Colombia, and Uganda. Methods This is a micro-costing study conducted from the perspective of the payer/funder with a 1-year horizon. The study evaluates the fixed costs and variable costs of implementing one nationally representative MPS for NCD risk factors of the adult population. In this costing study, we estimated the sample size of calls required to achieve a population-representative survey and associated incentives. Cost inputs were obtained from direct economic costs incurred by a central study team, from country-specific collaborators, and from platform developers who participated in the deployment of these MPS during 2017. Costs were reported in US dollars (USD). A sensitivity analysis was conducted assessing different scenarios of pricing and incentive strategies. Also, costs were calculated for a survey deployed targeting only adults younger than 45 years. Results We estimated the fixed costs ranging between $47,000 USD and $74,000 USD. Variable costs were found to be between $32,000 USD and $129,000 USD per nationally representative survey. The main cost driver was the number of calls required to meet the sample size, and its variability largely depends on the extent of mobile phone coverage and access in the country. Therefore, a larger number of calls were estimated to survey specific harder-to-reach sub-populations. Conclusion Mobile phone surveys have the potential to be a relatively less expensive and timely method of collecting survey information than face-to-face surveys, allowing decision-makers to deploy survey-based monitoring or evaluation programs more frequently than it would be possible having only face-to-face contact. The main driver of variable costs is survey time, and most of the variability across countries is attributable to the sampling differences associated to reaching out to population subgroups with low mobile phone ownership or access. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12963-021-00258-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres I Vecino-Ortiz
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Madhuram Nagarajan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Shamima Akhter
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease control and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Raymond Tweheyo
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Ali
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Iqbal Ansary Khan
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease control and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Alain Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - George W Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolf Street., Suite E8620, Baltimore, MD, USA
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11
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Hoque MR, Rahman MS, Nipa NJ, Hasan MR. Mobile health interventions in developing countries: A systematic review. Health Informatics J 2020; 26:2792-2810. [PMID: 32691659 DOI: 10.1177/1460458220937102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study reviews the quality of evidence reported in mobile health intervention literature in the context of developing countries. A systematic search of renowned databases was conducted to find studies related to mobile health applications published between a period of 2013 and 2018. After a methodological screening, a total of 31 studies were included for data extraction and synthesis. The mobile health Evidence Reporting and Assessment checklist developed by the World Health Organization was then used to evaluate the rigor and completeness in evidence reporting. We report several important and interesting findings. First, there is a very low level of familiarity with the mobile health Evidence Reporting and Assessment checklist among the researchers and mobile health intervention designers from developing countries. Second, most studies do not adequately meet the essential criteria of evidence reporting mentioned in the mobile health Evidence Reporting and Assessment checklist. Third, there is a dearth of application of design science-based methods and theory-based frameworks in developing mobile health interventions. Fourth, most of the mobile health interventions are not ready for interoperability and to be integrated into the existing health information systems. Based on these findings, we recommend for robust and inclusive study plans to deliver highly evidence-based reports by mobile health intervention studies that are conducted in the context of developing countries.
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Machado MP, Schavinski AZ, Deluque AL, Volpato GT, Campos KE. The Treatment of Prednisone in Mild Diabetic Rats: Biochemical Parameters and Cell Response. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2020; 20:797-805. [DOI: 10.2174/1871530319666191204130007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Limited studies have been carried out with prednisone (PRED) in treatment by
glucose intolerant individuals, even in this model the animals presented low blood glucose levels at
adulthood, by the high regenerative capacity of β-cell.
Objective:
The aim was to evaluate the effects of the treatment of PRED in mild diabetes on biochemical
and immunological biomarkers.
Methods:
Rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), treated control C+PRED (treatment
of 1.25 mg/Kg/day PRED); diabetic DM (mild diabetes) and treated diabetic DM+PRED (treatment
with same dose as C+PRED group). Untreated groups received vehicle, adjusted volume to body
weight. The treatment lasted 21 days and measured body weight, food and water intake, and glycemia
weekly. In the 3rd week, the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and the Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)
was performed. On the last day, the rats were killed and the blood was collected for biochemical analyzes,
leukogram and immunoglobulin G levels.
Results:
There was a significant decrease in body weight in mild diabetes; however, the treatment in
diabetic groups increased food intake, glycemia, and the number of total leukocytes, lymphocytes and
neutrophils. On the other hand, it decreased the levels of triglycerides, high-density and very lowdensity
lipoproteins. In addition, diabetic groups showed glucose intolerance and mild insulin resistance,
confirming that this model induces glucose intolerant in adult life.
Conclusion:
The results showed that the use of prednisone is not recommended for glucose intolerant
individuals and should be replaced in order to not to aggravate this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana P.R. Machado
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Biotechnology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Z. Schavinski
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amanda L. Deluque
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gustavo T. Volpato
- Laboratory of System Physiology and Reproductive Toxicology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garcas, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Kleber E. Campos
- Laboratory of System Physiology and Reproductive Toxicology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garcas, Mato Grosso, Brazil
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Greenleaf AR, Gadiaga A, Guiella G, Turke S, Battle N, Ahmed S, Moreau C. Comparability of modern contraceptive use estimates between a face-to-face survey and a cellphone survey among women in Burkina Faso. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231819. [PMID: 32401773 PMCID: PMC7219703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The proliferation of cell phone ownership in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) presents the opportunity to collect public health indicators at a lower cost compared to face-to-face (FTF) surveys. This analysis assesses the equivalence of modern contraceptive prevalence estimates between a nationally representative FTF survey and a cell phone survey using random digit dialing (RDD) among women of reproductive age in Burkina Faso. Methods We analyzed data from two surveys conducted in Burkina Faso between December 2017 and May 2018. The FTF survey conducted by Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA2020) comprised a nationally representative sample of 3,556 women of reproductive age (15–49 years). The RDD survey was conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing and included 2,379 women of reproductive age. Results Compared to FTF respondents, women in the RDD sample were younger, were more likely to have a secondary degree and to speak French. RDD respondents were more likely to report using modern contraceptive use (40%) compared to FTF respondents (26%) and the difference remained unchanged after applying post-stratification weights to the RDD sample (39%). This difference surpassed the equivalence margin of 4%. The RDD sample also produced higher estimates of contraceptive use than the subsample of women who owned a phone in the FTF sample (32%). After adjusting for women’s sociodemographic factors, the odds of contraceptive use were 1.9 times higher (95% CI: 1.6–2.2) in the RDD survey compared to the FTF survey and 1.6 times higher (95% CI: 1.3–1.8) compared to FTF phone owners. Conclusions Modern contraceptive prevalence in Burkina Faso is over-estimated when using a cell phone RDD survey, even after adjusting for a number of sociodemographic factors. Further research should explore causes of differential estimates of modern contraceptive use by survey modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R. Greenleaf
- Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Aliou Gadiaga
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, University of Ouagadougou, Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Georges Guiella
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, University of Ouagadougou, Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Shani Turke
- Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Noelle Battle
- Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Saifuddin Ahmed
- Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Caroline Moreau
- Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), Villejuif, France
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Bardus M, Awada N, Ghandour LA, Fares EJ, Gherbal T, Al-Zanati T, Stoyanov SR. The Arabic Version of the Mobile App Rating Scale: Development and Validation Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e16956. [PMID: 32130183 PMCID: PMC7078658 DOI: 10.2196/16956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With thousands of health apps in app stores globally, it is crucial to systemically and thoroughly evaluate the quality of these apps due to their potential influence on health decisions and outcomes. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) is the only currently available tool that provides a comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation of app quality, which has been used to compare medical apps from American and European app stores in various areas, available in English, Italian, Spanish, and German. However, this tool is not available in Arabic. Objective This study aimed to translate and adapt MARS to Arabic and validate the tool with a sample of health apps aimed at managing or preventing obesity and associated disorders. Methods We followed a well-established and defined “universalist” process of cross-cultural adaptation using a mixed methods approach. Early translations of the tool, accompanied by confirmation of the contents by two rounds of separate discussions, were included and culminated in a final version, which was then back-translated into English. Two trained researchers piloted the MARS in Arabic (MARS-Ar) with a sample of 10 weight management apps obtained from Google Play and the App Store. Interrater reliability was established using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). After reliability was ascertained, the two researchers independently evaluated a set of additional 56 apps. Results MARS-Ar was highly aligned with the original English version. The ICCs for MARS-Ar (0.836, 95% CI 0.817-0.853) and MARS English (0.838, 95% CI 0.819-0.855) were good. The MARS-Ar subscales were highly correlated with the original counterparts (P<.001). The lowest correlation was observed in the area of usability (r=0.685), followed by aesthetics (r=0.827), information quality (r=0.854), engagement (r=0.894), and total app quality (r=0.897). Subjective quality was also highly correlated (r=0.820). Conclusions MARS-Ar is a valid instrument to assess app quality among trained Arabic-speaking users of health and fitness apps. Researchers and public health professionals in the Arab world can use the overall MARS score and its subscales to reliably evaluate the quality of weight management apps. Further research is necessary to test the MARS-Ar on apps addressing various health issues, such as attention or anxiety prevention, or sexual and reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bardus
- Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nathalie Awada
- Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lilian A Ghandour
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elie-Jacques Fares
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tarek Gherbal
- University Sports, Office of Student Affairs, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Stoyan R Stoyanov
- School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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15
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Steinman L, van Pelt M, Hen H, Chhorvann C, Lan CS, Te V, LoGerfo J, Fitzpatrick AL. Can mHealth and eHealth improve management of diabetes and hypertension in a hard-to-reach population? -lessons learned from a process evaluation of digital health to support a peer educator model in Cambodia using the RE-AIM framework. Mhealth 2020; 6:40. [PMID: 33437836 PMCID: PMC7793020 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-19-249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where NCDs cause 4:5 deaths, disproportionately affect poorer populations, and carry a large economic burden. Digital interventions can improve NCD management for these hard-to-reach populations with inadequate health systems and high cell-phone coverage; however, there is limited research on whether digital health is reaching this potential. We conducted a process evaluation to understand challenges and successes from a digital health intervention trial to support Cambodians living with NCDs in a peer educator (PE) program. METHODS MoPoTsyo, a Cambodian non-governmental organization (NGO), trains people living with diabetes and/or hypertension as PEs to provide self-management education, support, and healthcare linkages for better care management among underserved populations. We partnered with MoPoTsyo and InSTEDD in 2016-2018 to test tailored and targeted mHealth mobile voice messages and eHealth tablets to facilitate NCD management and clinical-community linkages. This cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) engaged 3,948 people and 75 PEs across rural and urban areas. Our mixed methods process evaluation was guided by RE-AIM to understand impact and real-world implications of digital health. Data included patient (20) and PE interviews (6), meeting notes, and administrative datasets. We triangulated and analyzed data using thematic analysis, and descriptive and complier average causal effects statistics (CACE). RESULTS Reach: intervention participants were more urban (66% vs. 44%), had more PE visits (39 vs. 29), and lower uncontrolled hypertension [12% and 7% vs. 23% and 16% uncontrolled systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)]. Adoption: patients were sent mean [standard deviation (SD)] 30 [14] and received 14 [8] messages; 40% received no messages due to frequent phone number changes. Effectiveness: CACE found clinically but not statistically significant improvements in blood pressure and sugar for mHealth participants who received at least one message vs. no messages. Implementation: main barriers were limited cellular access and that mHealth/eHealth could not solve structural barriers to NCD control faced by people in poverty. Maintenance: had the intervention been universally effective, it could be paid for from additional revolving drug fund revenue, new agreements with mobile networks, or the government. CONCLUSIONS Evidence for digital health to improve NCD outcomes in LMICs are limited. This study suggests digital health alone is insufficient in countries with low resource health systems and that high cell phone coverage did not translate to access. Adding digital health to an NCD peer network may not significantly benefit an already effective program; mHealth may be better for hard-to-reach populations not connected to other supports. As long as mHealth remains an individual-level intervention, it will not address social determinants of health that drive outcomes. Future digital health research and practice to improve NCD management in LMICs requires engaging government, NGOs, and technology providers to work together to address barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley Steinman
- Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Heang Hen
- MoPoTsyo Patient Information Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | | | - Vannarath Te
- National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - James LoGerfo
- Department of Global Health, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Annette L. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Global Health, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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16
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Ssemugabo C, Rutebemberwa E, Kajungu D, Pariyo GW, Hyder AA, Gibson DG. Acceptability and Use of Interactive Voice Response Mobile Phone Surveys for Noncommunicable Disease Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance in Rural Uganda: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2019; 3:e15000. [PMID: 31793889 PMCID: PMC6918213 DOI: 10.2196/15000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is need for more timely data to inform interventions that address the growing noncommunicable disease (NCD) epidemic. With a global increase in mobile phone ownership, mobile phone surveys can bridge this gap. Objective This study aimed to explore the acceptability and use of interactive voice response (IVR) surveys for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors in rural Uganda. Methods This qualitative study employed user group testing (UGT) with community members. The study was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-HDSS) in Eastern Uganda. We conducted four UGTs which consisted of different categories of HDSS members: females living in urban areas, males living in urban areas, females living in rural areas, and males living in rural areas. Participants were individually sent an IVR survey, then were brought in for a group discussion using a semistructured guide. Data were analyzed thematically using directed content analysis. Results Participants perceived that IVR surveys may be useful in promoting confidentiality, saving costs, and raising awareness on NCD behavioral risk factors. Due to the clarity and delivery of questions in the local language, the IVR survey was perceived as easy to use. Community members suggested scheduling surveys on specific days and sending reminders as ways to improve their use for surveillance. Social issues such as domestic violence and perceptions toward unknown calls, technological factors including poor network connections and inability to use phones, and personal issues such as lack of access to phones and use of multiple networks were identified as barriers to the acceptability and use of mobile phone surveys. However, incentives were reported to motivate people to complete the survey. Conclusions Community members reflected on contextual and sociological implications of using mobile phones for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors. The opportunities and challenges that affect acceptability and use of IVR surveys should be considered in designing and implementing surveillance programs for NCD risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Ssemugabo
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Elizeus Rutebemberwa
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dan Kajungu
- Iganga Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Makerere University Centre for Health and Population Research, Kampala, Uganda
| | - George W Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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17
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Gibson DG, Wosu AC, Pariyo GW, Ahmed S, Ali J, Labrique AB, Khan IA, Rutebemberwa E, Flora MS, Hyder AA. Effect of airtime incentives on response and cooperation rates in non-communicable disease interactive voice response surveys: randomised controlled trials in Bangladesh and Uganda. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001604. [PMID: 31565406 PMCID: PMC6747927 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The global proliferation of mobile phones offers opportunity for improved non-communicable disease (NCD) data collection by interviewing participants using interactive voice response (IVR) surveys. We assessed whether airtime incentives can improve cooperation and response rates for an NCD IVR survey in Bangladesh and Uganda. Methods Participants were randomised to three arms: a) no incentive, b) 1X incentive or c) 2X incentive, where X was set to airtime of 50 Bangladesh Taka (US$0.60) and 5000 Ugandan Shillings (UGX; US$1.35). Adults aged 18 years and older who had a working mobile phone were sampled using random digit dialling. The primary outcomes, cooperation and response rates as defined by the American Association of Public Opinion Research, were analysed using log-binomial regression model. Results Between 14 June and 14 July 2017, 440 262 phone calls were made in Bangladesh. The cooperation and response rates were, respectively, 28.8% (353/1227) and 19.2% (580/3016) in control, 39.2% (370/945) and 23.9% (507/2120) in 50 Taka and 40.0% (362/906) and 24.8% (532/2148) in 100 Taka incentive groups. Cooperation and response rates, respectively, were significantly higher in both the 50 Taka (risk ratio (RR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.53) and (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.38), and 100 Taka groups (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.56) and (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.43), as compared with the controls. In Uganda, 174 157 phone calls were made from 26 March to 22 April 2017. The cooperation and response rates were, respectively, 44.7% (377/844) and 35.2% (552/1570) in control, 57.6% (404/701) and 39.3% (508/1293) in 5000 UGX and 58.8% (421/716) and 40.3% (535/1328) in 10 000 UGX groups. Cooperation and response rates were significantly higher, respectively in the 5000 UGX (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.42) and (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.23), and 10 000 UGX groups (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.45) and (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26), as compared with the control group. Conclusion In two diverse settings, the provision of an airtime incentive significantly improved both the cooperation and response rates of an IVR survey, with no significant difference between the two incentive amounts. Trial registration number NCT03768323.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin G Gibson
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Adaeze C Wosu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - George William Pariyo
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Saifuddin Ahmed
- Population, Family And Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph Ali
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Johns Hopkins University Berman Institute of Bioethics, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alain B Labrique
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Iqbal Ansary Khan
- Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, Dhaka, Dhaka District, Bangladesh
| | | | - Meerjady Sabrina Flora
- Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, Dhaka, Dhaka District, Bangladesh
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Ali J, DiStefano MJ, Coates McCall I, Gibson DG, Al Kibria GM, Pariyo GW, Labrique AB, Hyder AA. Ethics of mobile phone surveys to monitor non-communicable disease risk factors in low- and middle-income countries: A global stakeholder survey. Glob Public Health 2019; 14:1167-1181. [PMID: 30628548 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2019.1566482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Active public health surveillance has traditionally been carried out through face-to-face household surveys or contact with providers, which can be time and resource intensive. The increasing ubiquity of mobile phones and availability of phone survey platforms provide an opportunity to explore the use of mobile phone surveys (MPS) for active disease and risk factor surveillance, including for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Scholars are increasingly examining the ethics implications of mobile health (mHealth), but few have focused on the ethics of mHealth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and even fewer on mHealth for active surveillance. Given that little is known about ethics-related attitudes and practices of stakeholders invested in the conduct and oversight of mHealth in LMICs, we undertook a cross-sectional global stakeholder survey of ethics-related issues implicated by active observational MPS, with a contextual frame of monitoring NCD risk factors in LMICs. We analyse these findings with an organising focus on ethical issues that arise before, during and after conduct of an MPS including defining the activity; anticipating harms and benefits; obtaining consent; data ownership, access, and use; and ensuring sustainability. Finally, we present a set of empirical, conceptual, and normative considerations that arise from this analysis and merit further consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ali
- a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Michael J DiStefano
- a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Iris Coates McCall
- b Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | | | - George W Pariyo
- a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Alain B Labrique
- a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- d Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA
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19
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Labrique A, Vasudevan L, Mehl G, Rosskam E, Hyder AA. Digital Health and Health Systems of the Future. GLOBAL HEALTH: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2018; 6:S1-S4. [PMID: 30305334 PMCID: PMC6203414 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-18-00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Digital strategies have been formally recognized as a critical health systems strengthening strategy to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage targets. This landscaping collection reviews multiple possible approaches across health system pillars, from digital referrals to decision support systems, identifying key knowledge gaps across these domains and recognizing the growth needed in the field to realize its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Lavanya Vasudevan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Garrett Mehl
- Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ellen Rosskam
- Office of the Assistant Director-General, Health Metrics and Measurement, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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20
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Saleh S, Farah A, Dimassi H, El Arnaout N, Constantin J, Osman M, El Morr C, Alameddine M. Using Mobile Health to Enhance Outcomes of Noncommunicable Diseases Care in Rural Settings and Refugee Camps: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2018; 6:e137. [PMID: 30006326 PMCID: PMC6064041 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.8146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rural areas and refugee camps are characterized by poor access of patients to needed noncommunicable disease (NCD)-related health services, including diabetes and hypertension. Employing low-cost innovative eHealth interventions, such as mobile health (mHealth), may help improve NCDs prevention and control among disadvantaged populations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the effect of employing low-cost mHealth tools on the accessibility to health services and improvement of health indicators of individuals with NCDs in rural areas and refugee camps in Lebanon. METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial study in which centers were allocated randomly into control and intervention sites. The effect of an employed mHealth intervention is assessed through selected quality indicators examined in both control and intervention groups. Sixteen primary health care centers (eight controls, eight interventions) located in rural areas and Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon were included in this study. Data on diabetic and hypertensive patients-1433 in the intervention group and 926 in the control group-was extracted from patient files in the pre and postintervention periods. The intervention entailed weekly short message service messages, including medical information, importance of compliance, and reminders of appointments or regular physician follow-up. Internationally established care indicators were utilized in this study. Descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics of participants, bivariate analysis, logistic and linear regression were conducted using SPSS (IBM Corp). RESULTS Bivariate analysis of quality indicators indicated that the intervention group had a significant increase in blood pressure control (P=.03), as well as a significant decrease in the mean systolic blood pressure (P=.02), mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P<.01), and in the proportion of HbA1c poor control (P=.02). Separate regression models controlling for age, gender, and setting showed a 28% increase in the odds of blood pressure control (P=.05) and a 38% decrease in the odds of HbA1c poor control (P=.04) among the intervention group in the posttest period. Females were at lower odds of HbA1c poor control (P=.01), and age was statistically associated with annual HbA1c testing (P<.01). Regression models for mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, and mean HbA1c showed that a mean decrease in HbA1c of 0.87% (P<.01) pretest to posttest period was observed among the intervention group. Patients in rural areas belonging to the intervention group had a lower HbA1c score as compared with those in refugee camps (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS This study underlines the importance of employing integrative approaches of diseases prevention and control in which existing NCD programs in underserved communities (ie, rural and refugee camps settings) are coupled with innovative, low-cost approaches such as mHealth to provide an effective and amplified effect of traditional NCD-targeted care that can be reflected by improved NCD-related health indicators among the population. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03580330; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03580330 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70mhVEUwQ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Saleh
- Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Angie Farah
- Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hani Dimassi
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nour El Arnaout
- Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Joanne Constantin
- Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mona Osman
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Christo El Morr
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohamad Alameddine
- Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Health Management and Policy, College of Medicine, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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21
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Müller AM, Maher CA, Vandelanotte C, Hingle M, Middelweerd A, Lopez ML, DeSmet A, Short CE, Nathan N, Hutchesson MJ, Poppe L, Woods CB, Williams SL, Wark PA. Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Diet-Related eHealth and mHealth Research: Bibliometric Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2018; 20:e122. [PMID: 29669703 PMCID: PMC5932335 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.8954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) approaches to address low physical activity levels, sedentary behavior, and unhealthy diets have received significant research attention. However, attempts to systematically map the entirety of the research field are lacking. This gap can be filled with a bibliometric study, where publication-specific data such as citations, journals, authors, and keywords are used to provide a systematic overview of a specific field. Such analyses will help researchers better position their work. Objective The objective of this review was to use bibliometric data to provide an overview of the eHealth and mHealth research field related to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet. Methods The Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection was searched to retrieve all existing and highly cited (as defined by WoS) physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet related eHealth and mHealth research papers published in English between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2016. Retrieved titles were screened for eligibility, using the abstract and full-text where needed. We described publication trends over time, which included journals, authors, and countries of eligible papers, as well as their keywords and subject categories. Citations of eligible papers were compared with those expected based on published data. Additionally, we described highly-cited papers of the field (ie, top ranked 1%). Results The search identified 4805 hits, of which 1712 (including 42 highly-cited papers) were included in the analyses. Publication output increased on an average of 26% per year since 2000, with 49.00% (839/1712) of papers being published between 2014 and 2016. Overall and throughout the years, eHealth and mHealth papers related to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet received more citations than expected compared with papers in the same WoS subject categories. The Journal of Medical Internet Research published most papers in the field (9.58%, 164/1712). Most papers originated from high-income countries (96.90%, 1659/1717), in particular the United States (48.83%, 836/1712). Most papers were trials and studied physical activity. Beginning in 2013, research on Generation 2 technologies (eg, smartphones, wearables) sharply increased, while research on Generation 1 (eg, text messages) technologies increased at a reduced pace. Reviews accounted for 20 of the 42 highly-cited papers (n=19 systematic reviews). Social media, smartphone apps, and wearable activity trackers used to encourage physical activity, less sedentary behavior, and/or healthy eating were the focus of 14 highly-cited papers. Conclusions This study highlighted the rapid growth of the eHealth and mHealth physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet research field, emphasized the sizeable contribution of research from high-income countries, and pointed to the increased research interest in Generation 2 technologies. It is expected that the field will grow and diversify further and that reviews and research on most recent technologies will continue to strongly impact the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Matthias Müller
- Domain: Health Systems & Behavioural Sciences, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Healh, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Sports Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Carol A Maher
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Corneel Vandelanotte
- Physical Activity Research Group, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | - Melanie Hingle
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Anouk Middelweerd
- EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Michael L Lopez
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Ann DeSmet
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Camille E Short
- Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nicole Nathan
- Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Australia, Newcastle, Australia.,Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Melinda J Hutchesson
- Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle Australia, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Louise Poppe
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine B Woods
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Susan L Williams
- Physical Activity Research Group, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | - Petra A Wark
- Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
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22
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Slater H, Campbell JM, Stinson JN, Burley MM, Briggs AM. End User and Implementer Experiences of mHealth Technologies for Noncommunicable Chronic Disease Management in Young Adults: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e406. [PMID: 29233804 PMCID: PMC5743925 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.8888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and persistent musculoskeletal pain impose an escalating and unsustainable burden on young people, their families, and society. Exploring how mobile health (mHealth) technologies can support management for young people with NCDs is imperative. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify, appraise, and synthesize available qualitative evidence on users' experiences of mHealth technologies for NCD management in young people. We explored the perspectives of both end users (young people) and implementers (health policy makers, clinicians, and researchers). METHODS A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Eligibility criteria included full reports published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2007 to December 2016, searched across databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and PsycINFO. All qualitative studies that evaluated the use of mHealth technologies to support young people (in the age range of 15-24 years) in managing their chronic NCDs were considered. Two independent reviewers identified eligible reports and conducted critical appraisal (based on the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument: JBI-QARI). Three reviewers independently, then collaboratively, synthesized and interpreted data through an inductive and iterative process to derive emergent themes across the included data. External validity checking was undertaken by an expert clinical researcher and for relevant content, a health policy expert. Themes were subsequently subjected to a meta-synthesis, with findings compared and contrasted between user groups and policy and practice recommendations derived. RESULTS Twelve studies met our inclusion criteria. Among studies of end users (N=7), mHealth technologies supported the management of young people with diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Implementer studies (N=5) covered the management of cognitive and communicative disabilities, asthma, chronic self-harm, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Quality ratings were higher for implementer compared with end user studies. Both complementary and unique user themes emerged. Themes derived for end users of mHealth included (1) Experiences of functionality that supported self-management, (2) Acceptance (technical usability and feasibility), (3) Importance of codesign, and (4) Perceptions of benefit (self-efficacy and empowerment). For implementers, derived themes included (1) Characteristics that supported self-management (functional, technical, and behavior change); (2) Implementation challenges (systems level, service delivery level, and clinical level); (3) Adoption considerations for specific populations (training end users; specific design requirements); and (4) Codesign and tailoring to facilitate uptake and person-centered care. CONCLUSIONS Synthesizing available data revealed both complementary and unique user perspectives on enablers and barriers to designing, developing, and implementing mHealth technologies to support young people's management of their chronic NCDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42017056317; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD 42017056317 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6vZ5UkKLp).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Slater
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Jared M Campbell
- Joanna Briggs Institute, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jennifer N Stinson
- Lawrence S Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Megan M Burley
- Health Networks, Department of Health, Government of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Andrew M Briggs
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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Rosskam E, Hyder AA. Using mHealth to Predict Noncommunicable Diseases: A Public Health Opportunity for Low- and Middle-Income Countries. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e129. [PMID: 28476727 PMCID: PMC5438448 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Rosskam
- ER Global Consult, La Croix-de-Rozon, Switzerland.,Visiting Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, United States
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Health Systems Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Injury Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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24
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Gibson DG, Farrenkopf BA, Pereira A, Labrique AB, Pariyo GW. The Development of an Interactive Voice Response Survey for Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Estimation: Technical Assessment and Cognitive Testing. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e112. [PMID: 28476724 PMCID: PMC5438455 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rise in mobile phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents an opportunity to transform existing data collection and surveillance methods. Administering surveys via interactive voice response (IVR) technology—a mobile phone survey (MPS) method—has potential to expand the current surveillance coverage and data collection, but formative work to contextualize the survey for LMIC deployment is needed. Objective The primary objectives of this study were to (1) cognitively test and identify challenging questions in a noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor questionnaire administered via an IVR platform and (2) assess the usability of the IVR platform. Methods We conducted two rounds of pilot testing the IVR survey in Baltimore, MD. Participants were included in the study if they identified as being from an LMIC. The first round included individual interviews to cognitively test the participant’s understanding of the questions. In the second round, participants unique from those in round 1 were placed in focus groups and were asked to comment on the usability of the IVR platform. Results A total of 12 participants from LMICs were cognitively tested in round 1 to assess their understanding and comprehension of questions in an IVR-administered survey. Overall, the participants found that the majority of the questions were easy to understand and did not have difficulty recording most answers. The most frequent recommendation was to use country-specific examples and units of measurement. In round 2, a separate set of 12 participants assessed the usability of the IVR platform. Overall, participants felt that the length of the survey was appropriate (average: 18 min and 31 s), but the majority reported fatigue in answering questions that had a similar question structure. Almost all participants commented that they thought an IVR survey would lead to more honest, accurate responses than face-to-face questionnaires, especially for sensitive topics. Conclusions Overall, the participants indicated a clear comprehension of the IVR-administered questionnaire and that the IVR platform was user-friendly. Formative research and cognitive testing of the questionnaire is needed for further adaptation before deploying in an LMIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin G Gibson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brooke A Farrenkopf
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amanda Pereira
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George William Pariyo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Gibson DG, Pereira A, Farrenkopf BA, Labrique AB, Pariyo GW, Hyder AA. Mobile Phone Surveys for Collecting Population-Level Estimates in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Literature Review. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e139. [PMID: 28476725 PMCID: PMC5438460 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background National and subnational level surveys are important for monitoring disease burden, prioritizing resource allocation, and evaluating public health policies. As mobile phone access and ownership become more common globally, mobile phone surveys (MPSs) offer an opportunity to supplement traditional public health household surveys. Objective The objective of this study was to systematically review the current landscape of MPSs to collect population-level estimates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods Primary and gray literature from 7 online databases were systematically searched for studies that deployed MPSs to collect population-level estimates. Titles and abstracts were screened on primary inclusion and exclusion criteria by two research assistants. Articles that met primary screening requirements were read in full and screened for secondary eligibility criteria. Articles included in review were grouped into the following three categories by their survey modality: (1) interactive voice response (IVR), (2) short message service (SMS), and (3) human operator or computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Data were abstracted by two research assistants. The conduct and reporting of the review conformed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results A total of 6625 articles were identified through the literature review. Overall, 11 articles were identified that contained 19 MPS (CATI, IVR, or SMS) surveys to collect population-level estimates across a range of topics. MPSs were used in Latin America (n=8), the Middle East (n=1), South Asia (n=2), and sub-Saharan Africa (n=8). Nine articles presented results for 10 CATI surveys (10/19, 53%). Two articles discussed the findings of 6 IVR surveys (6/19, 32%). Three SMS surveys were identified from 2 articles (3/19, 16%). Approximately 63% (12/19) of MPS were delivered to mobile phone numbers collected from previously administered household surveys. The majority of MPS (11/19, 58%) were panel surveys where a cohort of participants, who often were provided a mobile phone upon a face-to-face enrollment, were surveyed multiple times. Conclusions Very few reports of population-level MPS were identified. Of the MPS that were identified, the majority of surveys were conducted using CATI. Due to the limited number of identified IVR and SMS surveys, the relative advantages and disadvantages among the three survey modalities cannot be adequately assessed. The majority of MPS were sent to mobile phone numbers that were collected from a previously administered household survey. There is limited evidence on whether a random digit dialing (RDD) approach or a simple random sample of mobile network provided list of numbers can produce a population representative survey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin G Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amanda Pereira
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brooke A Farrenkopf
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George W Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Pariyo GW, Wosu AC, Gibson DG, Labrique AB, Ali J, Hyder AA. Moving the Agenda on Noncommunicable Diseases: Policy Implications of Mobile Phone Surveys in Low and Middle-Income Countries. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e115. [PMID: 28476720 PMCID: PMC5438456 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), for example, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents special challenges for policy makers, due to resource constraints and lack of timely data for decision-making. Concurrently, the increasing ubiquity of mobile phones in LMICs presents possibilities for rapid collection of population-based data to inform the policy process. The objective of this paper is to highlight potential benefits of mobile phone surveys (MPS) for developing, implementing, and evaluating NCD prevention and control policies. To achieve this aim, we first provide a brief overview of major global commitments to NCD prevention and control, and subsequently explore how countries can translate these commitments into policy action at the national level. Using the policy cycle as our frame of reference, we highlight potential benefits of MPS which include (1) potential cost-effectiveness of using MPS to inform NCD policy actions compared with using traditional household surveys; (2) timeliness of assessments to feed into policy and planning cycles; (3) tracking progress of interventions, hence assessment of reach, coverage, and distribution; (4) better targeting of interventions, for example, to high-risk groups; (5) timely course correction for suboptimal or non-effective interventions; (6) assessing fairness in financial contribution and financial risk protection for those affected by NCDs in the spirit of universal health coverage (UHC); and (7) monitoring progress in reducing catastrophic medical expenditure due to chronic health conditions in general, and NCDs in particular. We conclude that MPS have potential to become a powerful data collection tool to inform policies that address public health challenges such as NCDs. Additional forthcoming assessments of MPS in LMICs will inform opportunities to maximize this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- George W Pariyo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adaeze C Wosu
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joseph Ali
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Gibson DG, Pariyo GW, Wosu AC, Greenleaf AR, Ali J, Ahmed S, Labrique AB, Islam K, Masanja H, Rutebemberwa E, Hyder AA. Evaluation of Mechanisms to Improve Performance of Mobile Phone Surveys in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Research Protocol. JMIR Res Protoc 2017; 6:e81. [PMID: 28476729 PMCID: PMC5438454 DOI: 10.2196/resprot.7534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mobile phone ownership and access have increased rapidly across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) within the last decade. Concomitantly, LMICs are experiencing demographic and epidemiologic transitions, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Mobile phone surveys could aid data collection for prevention and control of these NCDs but limited evidence of their feasibility exists. Objective The objective of this paper is to describe a series of sub-studies aimed at optimizing the delivery of interactive voice response (IVR) and computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) for NCD risk factor data collection in LMICs. These sub-studies are designed to assess the effect of factors such as airtime incentive timing, amount, and structure, survey introduction characteristics, different sampling frames, and survey modality on key survey metrics, such as survey response, completion, and attrition rates. Methods In a series of sub-studies, participants will be randomly assigned to receive different airtime incentive amounts (eg, 10 minutes of airtime versus 20 minutes of airtime), different incentive delivery timings (airtime delivered before survey begins versus delivery upon completion of survey), different survey introductions (informational versus motivational), different narrative voices (male versus female), and different sampling frames (random digit dialing versus mobile network operator-provided numbers) to examine which study arms will yield the highest response and completion rates. Furthermore, response and completion rates and the inter-modal reliability of the IVR and CATI delivery methods will be compared. Results Research activities are expected to be completed in Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2017. Conclusions This is one of the first studies to examine the feasibility of using IVR and CATI for systematic collection of NCD risk factor information in LMICs. Our findings will inform the future design and implementation of mobile phone surveys in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin G Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George William Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adaeze C Wosu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Abigail R Greenleaf
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joseph Ali
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Saifuddin Ahmed
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Khaleda Islam
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Honorati Masanja
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, United Republic Of Tanzania
| | - Elizeus Rutebemberwa
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Ali J, Labrique AB, Gionfriddo K, Pariyo G, Gibson DG, Pratt B, Deutsch-Feldman M, Hyder AA. Ethics Considerations in Global Mobile Phone-Based Surveys of Noncommunicable Diseases: A Conceptual Exploration. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e110. [PMID: 28476723 PMCID: PMC5438462 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile phone coverage has grown, particularly within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), presenting an opportunity to augment routine health surveillance programs. Several LMICs and global health partners are seeking opportunities to launch basic mobile phone–based surveys of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The increasing use of such technology in LMICs brings forth a cluster of ethical challenges; however, much of the existing literature regarding the ethics of mobile or digital health focuses on the use of technologies in high-income countries and does not consider directly the specific ethical issues associated with the conduct of mobile phone surveys (MPS) for NCD risk factor surveillance in LMICs. In this paper, we explore conceptually several of the central ethics issues in this domain, which mainly track the three phases of the MPS process: predata collection, during data collection, and postdata collection. These include identifying the nature of the activity; stakeholder engagement; appropriate design; anticipating and managing potential harms and benefits; consent; reaching intended respondents; data ownership, access and use; and ensuring LMIC sustainability. We call for future work to develop an ethics framework and guidance for the use of mobile phones for disease surveillance globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ali
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kara Gionfriddo
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George Pariyo
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Bridget Pratt
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Nossal Institute for Global Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Molly Deutsch-Feldman
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Greenleaf AR, Gibson DG, Khattar C, Labrique AB, Pariyo GW. Building the Evidence Base for Remote Data Collection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Comparing Reliability and Accuracy Across Survey Modalities. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e140. [PMID: 28476728 PMCID: PMC5438451 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Given the growing interest in mobile data collection due to the proliferation of mobile phone ownership and network coverage in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we synthesized the evidence comparing estimates of health outcomes from multiple modes of data collection. In particular, we reviewed studies that compared a mode of remote data collection with at least one other mode of data collection to identify mode effects and areas for further research. Objective The study systematically reviewed and summarized the findings from articles and reports that compare a mode of remote data collection to at least one other mode. The aim of this synthesis was to assess the reliability and accuracy of results. Methods Seven online databases were systematically searched for primary and grey literature pertaining to remote data collection in LMICs. Remote data collection included interactive voice response (IVR), computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI), short message service (SMS), self-administered questionnaires (SAQ), and Web surveys. Two authors of this study reviewed the abstracts to identify articles which met the primary inclusion criteria. These criteria required that the survey collected the data from the respondent via mobile phone or landline. Articles that met the primary screening criteria were read in full and were screened using secondary inclusion criteria. The four secondary inclusion criteria were that two or more modes of data collection were compared, at least one mode of data collection in the study was a mobile phone survey, the study had to be conducted in a LMIC, and finally, the study should include a health component. Results Of the 11,568 articles screened, 10 articles were included in this study. Seven distinct modes of remote data collection were identified: CATI, SMS (singular sitting and modular design), IVR, SAQ, and Web surveys (mobile phone and personal computer). CATI was the most frequent remote mode (n=5 articles). Of the three in-person modes (face-to-face [FTF], in-person SAQ, and in-person IVR), FTF was the most common (n=11) mode. The 10 articles made 25 mode comparisons, of which 12 comparisons were from a single article. Six of the 10 articles included sensitive questions. Conclusions This literature review summarizes the existing research about remote data collection in LMICs. Due to both heterogeneity of outcomes and the limited number of comparisons, this literature review is best positioned to present the current evidence and knowledge gaps rather than attempt to draw conclusions. In order to advance the field of remote data collection, studies that employ standardized sampling methodologies and study designs are necessary to evaluate the potential for differences by survey modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Greenleaf
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dustin G Gibson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christelle Khattar
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George W Pariyo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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