ArticleJMIR pediatrics and parenting2021
Caregiver Acceptability of Mobile Phone Use for Pediatric Cancer Care in Tanzania: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study.
Article in JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Understanding barriers of receiving short message service appointment reminders across African regions: a systematic review.BMJ health & care informatics · 2022Pooled it
- The Effect of Text Messaging on the Postoperative Pain Experience in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Design of an Automated Mobile Phone-Based Reminder and Incentive System: Application in a Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve the Timeliness of Childhood Vaccinations in Tanzania.JMIR formative research · 2025Trial
- Conceptualization of Digital Platforms Within Cancer Communication: A Review of Barriers and Drivers of Online Tools to Empower Children and Adolescents with Cancer to Understand Their Disease.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2025Review
- The socio-cultural contexts shaping health-seeking behaviours among community members regarding childhood cancer in Tanzania: A qualitative study.Pediatric blood & cancer · 2024Article
- An mHealth Intervention to Improve Guardians' Adherence to Children's Follow-Up Care for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Tanzania (GuardiansCan Project): Protocol for a Development and Feasibility Study.JMIR research protocols · 2023Article
- Acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of smartphone-based delivery of written educational materials in Iranian patients with coronary artery disease: A randomized control trial study.Health science reports · 2022Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThere is a 60% survival gap between children diagnosed with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and those in high-income countries. Low caregiver knowledge about childhood cancer and its treatment results in presentation delays and subsequent treatment abandonment in LMICs. However, in-person education to improve caregiver knowledge can be challenging due to health worker shortages and inadequate training. Due to the rapid expansion of mobile phone use worldwide, mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer an alternative to delivering in-person education.
objectiveThe aim of this study is to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use among Tanzanian caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer as well as their acceptability of an mHealth intervention for cancer education, patient communication, and care coordination.
methodsIn July 2017, caregivers of children <18 years diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) were surveyed to determine mobile phone ownership, use patterns, technology literacy, and acceptability of mobile phone use for cancer education, patient communication, and care coordination. Descriptive statistics were generated from the survey data by using mean and SD values for continuous variables and percentages for binary or categorical variables.
resultsAll eligible caregivers consented to participate and completed the survey. Of the 40 caregivers who enrolled in the study, most used a mobile phone (n=34, 85%) and expressed high acceptability in using these devices to communicate with a health care provider regarding treatment support (n=39, 98%), receiving laboratory results (n=37, 93%), receiving reminders for upcoming appointments (n=38, 95%), and receiving educational information on cancer (n=35, 88%). Although only 9% (3/34) of mobile phone owners owned phones with smartphone capabilities, about 74% (25/34) self-reported they could view and read SMS text messages.
conclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use among caregivers of children with cancer in Tanzania. The high rate of mobile phone ownership and caregiver acceptability for a mobile phone-based education and communication strategy suggests that a mobile phone-based intervention, particularly one that utilizes SMS technology, could be feasible in this setting.
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