Access to mobile phone and willingness to receive mHealth services among patients with diabetes in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed at determining access to mobile phone and willingness to receive mobile phone based diabetes health services as well as identify associated factors in Northwest Ethiopia DESIGN An institution based cross sectional survey was conducted from February to March 2016 PARTICIPANTS Systematic randomly selected 423 patients with diabetes SETTING University of Gondar Hospital diabetic clinic MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measure was willingness to receive diabetic health service via mobile phone voice call or messaging services RESULTS Out of 423 patients with diabetes 329 77 8 had access to a mobile phone Among the latter 232 70 5 were willing to receive mobile phone based health services The educational status of patients adjusted OR AOR 2 6 95 CI 1 2 to 5 58 route of medication AOR 3 2 95 CI 1 44 to 7 1 transportation mechanism AOR 4 1 95 CI 1 2 to 13 57 travel time to health facility AOR 0 3 95 CI 0 12 to 0 82 current use of mobile phone as appointment reminder AOR 2 6 95 CI 1 07 to 6 49 and locking mobile phone with passwords AOR 4 6 95 CI 1 63 to 12 95 were significantly associated with the willingness to receive mobile phone based diabetic health services CONCLUSION Access to a mobile phone and willingness to receive mobile phone based health services were high Educational status route of medication transportation mechanism time to reach the service using mobile phone as appointment reminder and locking mobile phone with passwords were significantly associated factors Given the high proportion of access and willingness of patients to receive mobile phone based health services mHealth interventions could be helpful