Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension
Conditions
Keywords
noncommunicable diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, telemedicine, mobile health, rural health, refugees
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
OTHERmHealth intervention
Individual in the intervention group receive a weekly educational health SMS for the intervention period of 1 year. SMS content covered different health themes providing health information on lifestyle, dietary habits, body weight, smoking, medications, importance of compliance, as well as symptoms and self-management of HTN and diabetes. Community individuals who were diagnosed and were receiving necessary care previous to the investigator's intervention were sent weekly informative health SMS, as well as customized SMSs reminders to follow up on their scheduled medical appointments (eg, to check their HbA1c levels and have their annual foot or eye exams).
Sponsors
International Development Research Centre, Canada
Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Lebanon
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This study reports on a community trial in which PHC centers, along their respective catchment areas, were randomly allocated into control and intervention sites with the aim of assessing the change in selected NCD care quality indicators (QIs) among community individuals and patients. Patients in the intervention sites received a 1-year mHealth intervention, and their pre- and postintervention outcomes were assessed through measurement of QIs. Patients in the control sites received no intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Control (blood pressure (SBP/DBP) <140/90 mmHg)) | At 1 year from the time of initiation of the intervention | blood pressure (SBP/DBP) \<140/90 mmHg |
| Mean HbA1c | At 1 year from the time of initiation of the intervention | HbA1c level assessed for each patient |
Outcome results
None listed