Acceptability of a mobile health based intervention to modify lifestyles in prehypertensive patients in Argentina, Guatemala and Peru: a pilot study

Authors

  • Andrea Beratarrechea Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el Cono Sur (CESCAS). Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria (IECS). Argentina.
  • Francisco Diez-Canseco Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el Cono Sur (CESCAS). Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria (IECS). Argentina.
  • Ariel Fernández Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el Cono Sur (CESCAS). Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria (IECS). Argentina.
  • Rebeca Kanter Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el Cono Sur (CESCAS). Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria (IECS). Argentina.
  • Paola Letona INCAP Centro de Investigacion Integral del INCAP para la Prevencion de las Enfermedades Cronicas, Instituto de Nutricion de Centro America y Panama. Guatemala.
  • Homero Martinez Corporacion RAND. EE.UU. Hospital Infantil de Mexico “Dr. Federico Gomez”. México.
  • J. Jaime Miranda CRONICAS Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades Cronicas , Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Peru. Medico.
  • Manuel Ramirez-Zea INCAP Centro de Investigacion Integral del INCAP para la Prevencion de las Enfermedades Cronicas, Instituto de Nutricion de Centro America y Panama. Guatemala.
  • Adolfo Rubinstein Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el Cono Sur (CESCAS). Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria (IECS). Argentina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2015.322.1611

Keywords:

Prehypertension, Technology assessment, biomedical, Medical informatics

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of an intervention based on mobile health, for the adoption of healthy lifestyles in prehypertensive people living in low-income urban areas in Argentina, Guatemala and Peru. Materials and methods. Prehypertensive people aged 30-60 years were recruited for a pilot study. The intervention included two counseling calls made by a nutritionist followed by a weekly customized text message. An internet-based platform offered support for the implementation of the intervention. Using semi-structured interviews, we evaluated the reach and acceptability of the intervention in the participants and ease of use for the nutritionists. Results. It was possible to contact 43 of the 45 participants (95%). The average number of calls to contact a subject was two, with a range of 1-9 calls. Two participants could not be reached on their cell phone; five did not receive complete exposure to the intervention. Based on semi-structured interviews, the results showed good acceptability for the intervention by the participants. Nutritionists perceived the platform as friendly and easy to use. Barriers to deliver this intervention were related to difficulties in obtaining an adequate cellular signal. Conclusions. Given the high penetration of mobile phones in developing countries, it is concluded that it is feasible and acceptable to offer a mobile health based intervention oriented towards lifestyle modification in people with prehypertension or high risk of chronic disease intervention.

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Published

2015-06-19

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

1.
Beratarrechea A, Diez-Canseco F, Fernández A, Kanter R, Letona P, Martinez H, et al. Acceptability of a mobile health based intervention to modify lifestyles in prehypertensive patients in Argentina, Guatemala and Peru: a pilot study. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2015 Jun. 19 [cited 2024 Oct. 15];32(2):221-9. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/1611

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