Acceptability of delivering and accessing health information through text messaging among community health advisors.
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Date
2014-08-07
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication technologies can play a significant role in decreasing communication inequalities and cancer disparities by promoting cancer control and enhancing population and individual health Studies have shown that technology such as the mobile phone short message service SMS or text messaging can be an effective health communication strategy that influences individuals health related decisions behaviors and outcomes OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore usage of communication technologies assess the acceptability of mobile technology for delivery and access of health information and identify cancer and health information needs among Deep South Network for Cancer Control trained Community Health Advisors as Research Partners CHARPs METHODS A mixed method design was used and a triangulation protocol was followed to combine quantitative and qualitative data Focus groups 4 focus groups n 37 and self administered surveys n 77 were conducted to determine CHARPs mobile phone and text message usage The objective was to include identification of barriers and facilitators to a mobile phone intervention RESULTS All participants were African American 37 37 100 11 37 89 were women and the mean age was 53 4 SD 13 9 focus groups and 59 9 SD 8 7 survey Nearly all 33 37 89 of focus group participants reported owning a mobile phone Of those 8 33 24 owned a smartphone 22 33 67 had a text messaging plan and 18 33 55 and 11 33 33 received and sent text messages several times a week or day respectively Similar responses were seen among the survey participants with 75 77 97 reporting owning a mobile phone and of those 22 75 30 owned a smartphone 39 75 53 had a text messaging plan and 37 75 50 received and 27 75 37 sent text messages several times a week or day The benefits of a text messaging system mentioned by focus group participants included alternative form of communication quick method for disseminating information and privacy of communication The main barriers reported by both groups to using mobile technology to receive health information were cost and not knowing how to text message Ways to overcome barriers were explored with focus group participants and education was the most proposed solution Majority of CHARPs were in favor of receiving a weekly text message that would provide cancer health information CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study indicate that CHARPs are receptive to receiving text messages focusing on cancer health information and would be likely to engage in mobile health research These findings represent the first step in the development of an interactive mobile health program designed to provide cancer health information and a support network for the Deep South Network Community Health Advisors as Research Partners DSN CHARPs
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Adult, At risk for a particular disease or infection, Community-based health worker, Access to information or data, Health worker competence, Alignment with local norms, Pilot, Feasibility, Individual based, Cancer, Health education or promotion, Disease diagnosis / Point-of-care diagnostics, Surveillance, SMS, Text