the advance of mhealth the application of mobile technology in public health
TRANSCRIPT
The Advance of mHealth
The Application of Mobile Technology in Public Health
“The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human.”
~John Naisbitt
“We're changing the
world with technology.”
~ Bill Gates
The cell phone went from the device that was the fourth “hardest to do without” in 2002 to the number one slot in 2007.
“Mobile Access to Data and Information”, Pew Internet Project
Here Comes Mobile Thirty-nine percent of Americans have positive and
improving attitudes about their mobile communication devices, which in turn draws them further into engagement with digital resources – on both wireless and wireline platforms.
”The Mobile Difference”, Pew Internet Project
Short SMS Stats
270+ million
wireless subscribers
in the U.S.
Source: CTIA
Wireless only households increased from 8.4% (2005) to 17.5% (2008)
Source: CTIA
One trillion text messages
were sent in 2008
Source: CTIA
Mobile Phone Trivia:
How many mobile phones are
equipped with SMS (text) function?
Answer:
95%
Source: CTIA
Time to Make Use of These Technologies for Public Health!
What is mHealth?
mHealth is the use of mobile communications – such as PDAs and mobile phones – for health services
and information
Health Information + The Web
8 out of 10 American Internet users have searched for information on at least 1 of 17 health topics
Source: Online Health Search 2006, Pew Internet Study
Mobile Tech in Public Health
• Dissemination of Health Information
• Remote Data Collection Tool
• Consumer Interaction Point for Location- Based Health Information
OTHER COUNTRIES > UNITED STATES
Credit: DataDyne.org
Dissemination of Health Information
Remote Data Collection
FrontlineSMS is free software that turns a laptop and a mobile phone into a central communications hub. Once installed, the program enables users to send and receive text messages with large groups of people through mobile phones.
Mobiles in Malawi• A donated laptop, 100 recycled cell phones, and
a copy of FrontlineSMS
• SMS-based communications network for a rural hospital and its community health workers in Malawi
• Allows hospital to respond to requests for:– rendering emergency medical care– tracking patients– recording HIV and TB drug adherence– staying updated on patient status– providing instant drug dosage/usage information
Consumer Interaction
“[Mobile communication] is an avenue through which we will get the accurate, credible information we need to inform healthier decisions.”
~Dr. Jay Bernhardt
CDC Center for Health Marketing
What Next?
• More focus on medical adherence for patients
• Feedback on quality of care
• Increased focus on interaction with at-risk populations
• More efficient ways to receive health information
• Location-based services
Additional Resources
• http://mobileactive.org
• http://kiwanja.net
• http://jopsa.org
• http://www.dalezak.ca/
• http://delicious.com/mindofandre/mobilehealth
• http://delicious.com/mindofandre/mobile
