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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Mobile health for non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of the literature and strategic framework for research
Globalization and Health, Volume 10, No. 1, Article 49, Year 2014
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Description
Background: Mobile health (mHealth) approaches for non-communicable disease (NCD) care seem particularly applicable to sub-Saharan Africa given the penetration of mobile phones in the region. The evidence to support its implementation has not been critically reviewed.Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials, a number of other databases, and grey literature for studies reported between 1992 and 2012 published in English or with an English abstract available. We extracted data using a standard form in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Results: Our search yielded 475 citations of which eleven were reviewed in full after applying exclusion criteria. Five of those studies met the inclusion criteria of using a mobile phone for non-communicable disease care in sub-Saharan Africa. Most studies lacked comparator arms, clinical endpoints, or were of short duration. mHealth for NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa appears feasible for follow-up and retention of patients, can support peer support networks, and uses a variety of mHealth modalities. Whether mHealth is associated with any adverse effect has not been systematically studied. Only a small number of mHealth strategies for NCDs have been studied in sub-Saharan Africa.Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of mHealth for NCD care in sub-Saharan Africa. We present a framework for cataloging evidence on mHealth strategies that incorporates health system challenges and stages of NCD care. This framework can guide approaches to fill evidence gaps in this area. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42014007527. © 2014 Bloomfield et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC4064106/bin/1744-8603-10-49-S1.pdf
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC4064106/bin/1744-8603-10-49-S2.xlsx
Authors & Co-Authors
Bloomfield, Gerald Samuel
United States, Durham
Duke Clinical Research Institute
United States, Durham
Duke University
Vedanthan, Rajesh
United States, New York
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Vasudevan, Lavanya
United States, Durham
Duke University
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Kithei, Anne
Kenya, Eldoret
Moi University
Were, Martin Chieng
United States, Indianapolis
Indiana University School of Medicine
Kenya, Eldoret
Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare
Velázquez, Eric Jose
United States, Durham
Duke Clinical Research Institute
United States, Durham
Duke University
Statistics
Citations: 150
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1744-8603-10-49
e-ISSN:
17448603
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Systematic review