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+ millionwireless 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 Web8 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 BernhardtCDC 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/mobilehe

alth

• http://delicious.com/mindofandre/mobile

Contact Information

Andre Blackman

Blog: http://pulseandsignal.com

Email: mindofandre@gmail.com