Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31586363›Full record

ArticleJMIR diabetes2019

Acceptability of Mobile Health Interventions to Increase Diabetic Risk Factor Awareness Among the Commuter Population in Johannesburg: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Alex Fischer, Martha Chadyiwa, Ndumiso Tshuma, Vusumuzi Nkosi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR diabetes, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Alex FischerDepartment of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6882-7245
Martha ChadyiwaDepartment of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-4402
Ndumiso TshumaBest Health Solutions, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8689-9771
Vusumuzi NkosiDepartment of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5112-0163

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeveloping countries are experiencing a shift from infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes. Diabetes accounts for more disability-adjusted life years than any other NCD in South Africa, and research has identified a number of preventable risk factors; however, there is not enough evidence from lower resource settings as to how best to disseminate this information to the population. Today, 90% of the world's population lives in mobile phone coverage areas, and this provides a unique opportunity to reach large populations with health information.

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate how potential mobile health (mHealth) platforms should be paired with diabetes risk factor education so that at-risk communities are empowered with information to prevent and manage diabetes.

methodsA Likert-style survey was distributed to commuters in the City of Johannesburg in July 2018 that explored participants' background characteristics as well as their knowledge and awareness surrounding diabetic risk factors (such as exercise, smoking, and hypertension) and their comfort level with various information delivery methods (such as WhatsApp, short message service, and email). The grouped variables from diabetic risk factors and information delivery methods were described with mean Likert scores and then investigated for relationships with Spearman Rho correlation coefficients.

resultsBackground characteristics revealed that the self-reported prevalence of diabetes was twice as high in this studied commuter population than the national average. WhatsApp was the most favorable mHealth information delivery method and had a moderate correlation coefficient with diet and nutrition (0.338; P<.001) as well as a weaker correlation with physical activity (0.243; P<.001). Although not as robust as the WhatsApp correlations, each of the other information delivery methods also showed weaker, yet statistically significant, relationships with one or more of the risk factors.

conclusionsThe elevated self-reported diabetes prevalence reinforces the need for diabetes risk factor education in the studied commuter population of Johannesburg. The most feasible mHealth intervention for diabetic risk factor education should focus on WhatsApp messaging while also offering content across other mHealth and traditional platforms to remove barriers to access and enhance the user experience. The content should emphasize diet and nutrition as well as physical activity while also incorporating information on secondary risk factors.

Indexed as

diabetes mellitusmHealthnoncommunicable diseaseSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID31586363
PMCPMC6779026

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.