Technological Proficiencies, Engagement, and Practical Considerations for mHealth Programs at an Urban Safety-Net Hospital Emergency Departments: Data Analysis.

Background: Safety-net emergency departments often serve as the primary entry point for medical care for low income predominantly minority patient populations. Herein, we sought to provide insight into the feasibility, technological proficiencies, engagement characteristics, and practical considerations for a mHealth intervention at a safety-net emergency department.

Objective: We aimed to analyze patient technological proficiency to understand the feasibility of and draw practical considerations for mobile phone technology (mHealth) solutions for patients with chronic disease served by safety-net emergency departments.

Design and patient characteristics of the randomized controlled trial TExT-MED + FANS A test of mHealth augmented social support added to a patient-focused text-messaging intervention for emergency department patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

Although diabetes is a nationwide epidemic, US Latinos are a particularly vulnerable population. Culturally appropriate interventions can combat this disparity, especially those that increase social support. However, these interventions face significant cost and time barriers, which mHealth (mobile health) may overcome.