Dataset Information

Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Rather than providing participants with study-specific data collection devices, their personal mobile phones are increasingly being used as a means for collecting geolocation and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data in public health research. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents to an online survey screener assessing eligibility to participate in a mixed methods study collecting geolocation and EMA data via the participants' personal mobile phones, and (2) examine how eligibility criteria requiring mobile phone ownership and an unlimited text messaging plan affected participant inclusion. METHODS:Adult (?18 years) daily smokers were recruited via public advertisements, free weekly newspapers, printed flyers, and word of mouth. An online survey screener was used as the initial method of determining eligibility for study participation. The survey screened for twenty-eight inclusion criteria grouped into three categories, which included (1) cell phone use, (2) tobacco use, and (3) additional criteria. RESULTS:A total of 1003 individuals completed the online screener. Respondents were predominantly African American (605/1003, 60.3%) (60.4%), male (514/1003, 51.3%), and had a median age of 35 years (IQR 26-50). Nearly 50% (496/1003, 49.5%) were unemployed. Most smoked menthol cigarettes (699/1003, 69.7%), and had a median smoking history of 11 years (IQR 5-21). The majority owned a mobile phone (739/1003, 73.7%), could install apps (86.8%), used their mobile phone daily (89.5%), and had an unlimited text messaging plan (871/1003, 86.8%). Of those who completed the online screener, 302 were eligible to participate in the study; 163 were eligible after rescreening, and 117 were enrolled in the study. Compared to employed individuals, a significantly greater proportion of those who were unemployed were ineligible for the study based on mobile phone inclusion criteria (P<.001); yet, 46.4% (333/717) of the individuals who were unemployed met all mobile phone inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS:Inclusion criteria requiring participants to use their personal mobile phones for data collection was not a major barrier to study participation for most respondents who completed the online screener, including those who were unemployed. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02261363; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02261363 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wOmDluSt).

SUBMITTER: Harvey EJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5838361 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

Harvey Emily J EJ Rubin Leslie F LF Smiley Sabrina L SL Zhou Yitong Y Elmasry Hoda H Elmasry Hoda H Pearson Jennifer L JL

JMIR mHealth and uHealth 20180219 2

<h4>Background</h4>Rather than providing participants with study-specific data collection devices, their personal mobile phones are increasingly being used as a means for collecting geolocation and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data in public health research.<h4>Objective</h4>The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents to an online survey screener assessing eligibility to participate in a mixed methods study collecting geolocation and ...[more]

PMID: 29459355

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease, which causes an estimated 59?000 human deaths globally every year. The vast majority of human rabies cases are attributable to bites from infected domestic dogs and consequently control of rabies in the dog population through mass vaccination campaigns is considered the most effective method of eliminating the disease. Achieving the WHO target of 70% vaccination coverage has proven challenging in low-resource settings such as Sub Saharan Africa, and lack of public awareness about rabies vaccination campaigns is a major barrier to their success. In this study we surveyed communities in three districts in Southern Malawi to assess the extent of and socio-economic factors associated with mobile phone ownership and explore the attitudes of communities towards the use of short message service (SMS) to inform them of upcoming rabies vaccination clinics. METHODS:This study was carried out between 1 October-3 December 2018 during the post-vaccination assessment of the annual dog rabies campaign in Blantyre, Zomba and Chiradzulu districts, Malawi. 1882 questionnaires were administered to households in 90 vaccination zones. The surveys gathered data on mobile phone ownership and use, and barriers to mobile phone access. A multivariable regression model was used to understand factors related to mobile phone ownership. RESULTS:Most survey respondents owned or had use of a mobile phone, however there was evidence of an inequality of access, with higher education level, living in Blantyre district and being male positively associated with mobile phone ownership. The principal barrier to mobile phone ownership was the cost of the phone itself. Basic feature phones were most common and few owned smartphones. SMS was commonly used and the main reason for not using SMS was illiteracy. Attitudes to receiving SMS reminders about future rabies vaccination campaigns were positive. CONCLUSIONS:The study showed a majority of those surveyed have the use of a mobile phone and most mobile phone owners indicated they would like to receive SMS messages about future rabies vaccination campaigns. This study provides insight into the feasibility of distributing information about rabies vaccination campaigns using mobile phones in Malawi.

Project description:BackgroundMobile phone ownership among women of reproductive age in western Kenya is not well described, and our understanding of its link with care-seeking behaviors is nascent. Understanding access to and use of mobile phones among this population as well as willingness to participate in mobile health interventions are important in improving and more effectively implementing mobile health strategies.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe patterns of mobile phone ownership and use among women attending cervical cancer screening and to identify key considerations for the use of SMS text message-guided linkage to treatment strategies and other programmatic implications for cervical cancer screening in Kenya.MethodsThis analysis was nested within a cluster randomized trial evaluating various strategies for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening and prevention in a rural area in western Kenya between February and November 2018. A total of 3299 women were surveyed at the time of screening and treatment. Questionnaires included items detailing demographics, health history, prior care-seeking behaviors, and patterns of mobile phone ownership and use. We used bivariate and multivariable log-binomial regression to analyze associations between independent variables and treatment uptake among women testing positive for high-risk HPV.ResultsRates of mobile phone ownership (2351/3299, 71.26%) and reported daily use (2441/3299, 73.99%) were high among women. Most women (1953/3277, 59.59%) were comfortable receiving their screening results via SMS text messages, although the most commonly preferred method of notification was via phone calls. Higher levels of education (risk ratio 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.50), missing work to attend screening (risk ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.10-1.52), and previous cervical cancer screening (risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.55) were significantly associated with a higher risk of attending treatment after testing high-risk HPV-positive, although the rates of overall treatment uptake remained low (278/551, 50.5%) among this population. Those who shared a mobile phone with their partner or spouse were less likely to attend treatment than those who owned a phone (adjusted risk ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.46-1.05). Treatment uptake did not vary significantly according to the type of notification method, which were SMS text message, phone call, or home visit.ConclusionsAlthough the rates of mobile phone ownership and use among women in western Kenya are high, we found that individual preferences for communication of messages about HPV results and treatment varied and that treatment rates were low across the entire cohort, with no difference by modality (SMS text message, phone call, or home visit). Therefore, although text-based results performed as well as phone calls and home visits, our findings highlight the need for more work to tailor communication about HPV results and support women as they navigate the follow-up process.

Dataset Information

Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

Publications

Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets