Smartphone Ownership and the Willingness to receive Mobile Health Services among Patients with Hypertension in Nigeria.
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
West African College Of Physicians
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are traditional barriers to accessing
quality hypertension care in sub-Saharan Africa. Mobile phone
technology is increasingly being used to overcome these
barriers. This study assessed smartphone ownership and the
willingness to receive mobile health services among patients
with hypertension in Nigeria.
METHODS: Four hundred and twenty-seven (427) patients
with hypertension were recruited from two tertiary health
institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were fed into
the Open Data Kit form, which was used to take data on mobile
phone ownership, the willingness to receive and the preferred
type of mobile phone-based hypertension health care services.
RESULTS: Males were 37.2%. Mean age was 60.6 ± 15.3 years.
Of the participants, 48.7% owned smartphones, 21.1% had
regular internet subscription on their phones, 94.8% were willing
to receive and pay mobile health services. Phone calls (48.0%)
and text messages (31.6%) were the most preferred modes of
receiving hypertension-related health education. Age category
of 45-64 years was the only predictor of willingness to receive
mobile health services.
CONCLUSION: All our participants owned mobile phones,
with 48.7% being smartphones and almost all the participants
were willing to receive and pay for mobile health services for
prevention, treatment and information on hypertension. Middle
age was the only predictor of willingness to receive mobile
health, and the most preferred choices were through phone
calls and text messages. The above information will guide in
the design of favourable mHealth interventions that will be
ideal for our study population
Description
Keywords
Smartphones, Willingness, Mobile health, Middleage, Hypertension, Nigeria.
Citation
West African Journal of Medicine 40(1):84-89