Kevin Kamis|Mary R. Janevic|Nicolle Marinec|Rachel Jantz|Helen Valverde|John D. Piette
A study of mobile phone use among patients with noncommunicable diseases in La Paz, Bolivia: implications for mHealth research and development
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
global momentum supporting mobile health mhealth research development increasing imperative assess potential fit mhealth programs local settings describe penetration mobile technologies among bolivian patients noncommunicable diseases ncds inform research mhealth interventions andean region well low middleincome countries generallyfivehundred fiftynine ncd patients identified outpatient clinics affiliated four hospitals cities la paz el alto respondents completed surveys use standard mobile phones smartphones respondents also provided information sociodemographic characteristics health status access care used descriptive statistics logistic regression understand variation mobile phone use across groups defined patient characteristics associated health service access socioeconomic vulnerabilityrespondents average 52 years age 33 sixth grade education 30 spoke indigenous language home eightysix percent owned mobile phone 13 owned smartphone fiftyeight percent mobile phone users sent received text message least week mobile phone owners reported connectivity problems lacking mobile signal 9 credit make call 17 younger age male gender high health literacy years education fewer previously diagnosed ncds positively related mobile phone ownership among mobile phone users respondents lower education indicators vulnerability less likely counterparts report frequent usage texting servicesmobile phones high penetration among ncd patients la paz bolivia including among older less educated socioeconomic risk factors smartphone use still relatively uncommon even among patients younger educated certain patient characteristics age education impact patients use text messaging mobile phonebased mhealth interventions feasible strategies increasing ncd patients access selfmanagement support facetoface clinical encounters