Hypertension Health Promotion via Text Messaging at a Community Health Center in South Africa: A Mixed Methods Study
An article published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR)
From the article results abstract: "No statistically significant changes in overall health knowledge were observed between the control and intervention groups. The intervention group had positive increases in self-reported behavior changes. These were reaffirmed by the focus groups, which also revealed a strong preference for the SMS campaign and the belief that the SMSes acted as a reminder to change, as opposed to providing new information."
| Level of Evidence | Level III |
| Study Region | South Africa |
| Organization | Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town |
| Issue or Problem | Effective dissemination of hypertension related health information to consumers within developing countries |
| Tech Medium | SMS |
| Technology Device | Mobile Phone |
| mFHAST Implication | Opportunities for improving motivation for positive self-reported behavior change among hypertensive patients |
More links
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Link to the original JMIR articleThe use of mobile phones to deliver health care (mHealth) is increasing in popularity due to the high prevalence of mobile phone penetration. This is seen in developing countries, where mHealth may be particularly useful in overcoming traditional access barriers. Non-communicable diseases may be particularly amenable to mHealth interventions, and hypertension is one with an escalating burden in the developing world.