Use of Low-cost mHealth Intervention to Enhance Outcomes of Noncommunicable Diseases Care in Rural and Refugee Settings

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus; Hypertension
• Interventions: Other: mHealth intervention

• Registration Number: NCT03580330
• Lead Sponsor: American University of Beirut Medical Center

Brief Summary

Rural areas and refugee camps are characterized by poor access of patients to needed noncommunicable disease (NCD)-related health services, including diabetes and hypertension. This community trial study aims to assess the effect of employing low-cost mHealth tools on the accessibility to health services and improvement of health indicators of individuals with NCDs in rural areas and refugee camps in Lebanon.

Detailed Description

Rural areas and refugee camps are characterized by poor access of patients to needed noncommunicable disease (NCD)-related health services, including diabetes and hypertension. Employing low-cost innovative eHealth interventions, such as mobile health (mHealth), may help improve NCDs prevention and control among disadvantaged populations.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of employing low-cost mHealth tools on the accessibility to health services and improvement of health indicators of individuals with NCDs in rural areas and refugee camps in Lebanon.

This is a community trial study in which centers were allocated randomly into control and intervention sites. The effect of an employed mHealth intervention is assessed through selected quality indicators examined in both control and intervention groups. Sixteen primary health care centers (eight controls, eight interventions) located in rural areas and Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon were included in this study. Data on diabetic and hypertensive patients-1433 in the intervention group and 926 in the control group-was extracted from patient files in the pre and postintervention periods. The intervention entailed weekly short message service messages, including medical information, importance of compliance, and reminders of appointments or regular physician follow-up. Internationally established care indicators were utilized in this study.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-04-17
• Primary Completion: 2018-04-01
• Study Completion: 2018-04-01
• Status Verified: 2018-06
• Study First Submitted: 2018-06-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-06-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-06-26
• Study First Posted: 2018-07-09
• Last Update Posted: 2018-07-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2359

Inclusion Criteria

• Registered at the Primary Healthcare Center as diabetics and/or hypertensive or diagnosed with or suspected to have diabetes and/or hypertension
• Aged 40 years or more
• Lebanese or Palestinian nationality

Exclusion Criteria

• aged less than 40 years
• Non-Lebanese / Non-Palestinian
• No exclusion based on gender, educational and literacy level, disability, or presence of other medical conditions

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention Group	mHealth intervention	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Blood Pressure Control (blood pressure (SBP/DBP) <140/90 mmHg))	At 1 year from the time of initiation of the intervention	blood pressure (SBP/DBP) \<140/90 mmHg
Mean HbA1c	At 1 year from the time of initiation of the intervention	HbA1c level assessed for each patient