Use of Low-cost mHealth Intervention to Enhance Outcomes of Noncommunicable Diseases Care in Rural and Refugee Settings

Could Low-Cost Mobile Health Interventions Make a Difference?:Enhancing Outcomes of Noncommunicable Diseases Care in Rural Settings and Refugee Camps

Rural areas and refugee camps are characterized by poor access of patients to needed noncommunicable disease (NCD)-related health services, including diabetes and hypertension. This community trial study aims 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.

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.

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.

This is a community 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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Registered at the Primary Healthcare Center as diabetics and/or hypertensive or diagnosed with or suspected to have diabetes and/or hypertension
• Aged 40 years or more
• Lebanese or Palestinian nationality

Exclusion Criteria:

• aged less than 40 years
• Non-Lebanese / Non-Palestinian
• No exclusion based on gender, educational and literacy level, disability, or presence of other medical conditions