Background: As an innovative solution to poor access to care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), m-health has gained wide attention in the past decade.
Introduction: Despite enthusiasm from the global health community, LMICs have not demonstrated high uptake of m-health promoting policies or public investment.
Materials And Methods: To benchmark the current status, this study compared m-health policy readiness scores between sub-Saharan Africa and high-income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries using an independent two-sample t test. In addition, the enabling factors associated with m-health policy readiness were investigated using an ordinal logistic regression model. The study was based on the m-health policy readiness scores of 112 countries obtained from the World Health Organization Third Global Survey on e-Health.
Results: The mean m-health policy readiness score for sub-Saharan Africa was statistically significantly lower than that for OECD countries (p = 0.02). The enabling factors significantly associated with m-health policy readiness included information and communication technology development index (odds ratio [OR] 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.2), e-health education for health professionals (OR 4.43; 95% CI 1.60-12.27), and the location in sub-Saharan Africa (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.06-11.34).
Discussion: The findings of our study suggest dual policy goals for m-health in sub-Saharan Africa. First, enhance technological and educational support for m-health. Second, pursue global collaboration for building m-health capacity led by sub-Saharan African countries with hands-on experience and knowledge.
Conclusion: Globally, countries should take a systematic and collaborative approach in pursuing m-health policy with the focus on technological and educational support.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2017.0278 | DOI Listing |
Health Res Policy Syst
December 2024
Texas A&M Health, School of Medicine, Health Professions Education Building 8447 Riverside Pkwy, Bryan, TX, 77807, United States of America.
Most forms of clinical research examine a very minute cross section of the patient journey. Much of the knowledge and evidence base driving current genomic medicine practice entails blind spots arising from underrepresentation and lack of research participation in clinicogenomic databases. The flaws are perpetuated in AI models and clinical practice guidelines that reflect the lack of diversity in data being used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Technol Assess Health Care
December 2024
Department of Health Information, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Introduction: Digital health technologies have been enhancing the capacity of healthcare providers and, thereby, the delivery of targeted health services. The Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) has invested in strengthening digital public health. Many digital health interventions have been implemented in public health settings but are rarely assessed using the holistic health technology assessment (HTA) approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLOS Digit Health
December 2024
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Objectives: Although several brief cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)-based treatments for dental fear have proven efficacious, these interventions remain largely unavailable outside of the specialty clinics in which they were developed. Leveraging technology, we sought to increase access to treatment for individuals with dental fear through the development of a mobile application (Dental FearLess).
Materials And Methods: To assess the resonance of our app as an avenue for dental fear treatment, we conducted a study assessing the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the beta app.
Nicotine Tob Res
December 2024
College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Introduction: Tobacco warning labels typically feature confronting health risk messages which aim to evoke fear to change behaviour. Evidence shows these graphic health warning labels (GHWLs) can be effective but can also lead to unintended responses, including avoidance or defensiveness. Theory suggests that targeting beliefs about the likelihood and benefits of successfully quitting may increase adaptive responses to risk information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of mobile health applications in the management of health crises. Despite the promising outcomes of these technologies, however, their acceptance and use among physicians in the developing world such as Saudi Arabia are notably low. The study aimed to explore the factors influencing the acceptance and adoption of mobile health applications by physicians in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!