Caregiver Acceptability of Mobile Phone Use for Pediatric Cancer Care in Tanzania: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Background There is a 60% survival gap between children diagnosed with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and those in high-income countries. Low caregiver knowledge about childhood cancer and its treatment results in presentation delays and subsequent treatment abandonment in LMICs. However, in-person education to improve caregiver knowledge can be challenging due to health worker shortages and inadequate training. Due to the rapid expansion of mobile phone use worldwide, mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer an alternative to delivering in-person education. Objective The aim of this study is to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use among Tanzanian caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer as well as their acceptability of an mHealth intervention for cancer education, patient communication, and care coordination. Methods In July 2017, caregivers of children <18 years diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) were surveyed to determine mobile phone ownership, use patterns, technology literacy, and acceptability of mobile phone use for cancer education, patient communication, and care coordination. Descriptive statistics were generated from the survey data by using mean and SD values for continuous variables and percentages for binary or categorical variables. Results All eligible caregivers consented to participate and completed the survey. Of the 40 caregivers who enrolled in the study, most used a mobile phone (n=34, 85%) and expressed high acceptability in using these devices to communicate with a health care provider regarding treatment support (n=39, 98%), receiving laboratory results (n=37, 93%), receiving reminders for upcoming appointments (n=38, 95%), and receiving educational information on cancer (n=35, 88%). Although only 9% (3/34) of mobile phone owners owned phones with smartphone capabilities, about 74% (25/34) self-reported they could view and read SMS text messages. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use among caregivers of children with cancer in Tanzania. The high rate of mobile phone ownership and caregiver acceptability for a mobile phone–based education and communication strategy suggests that a mobile phone–based intervention, particularly one that utilizes SMS technology, could be feasible in this setting.

Acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of smartphone‐based delivery of written educational materials in Iranian patients with coronary artery disease: A randomized control trial study

“…In addition, the mean number of downloads of educational materials in the SPBD group was higher than the mean numbers required. In comparison, the same number was lower in the PD group, which may be due to multiple mobile phone capabilities such as convenient access, availability at any time and place, and the ability to send information 20 …”

“…In comparison, the same number was lower in the PD group, which may be due to multiple mobile phone capabilities such as convenient access, availability at any time and place, and the ability to send information. 20 …”

“…Mobile phone provides an opportunity to improve access to health promotion intervention and has a unique advantage, that is, the ability to affect health behaviors in real time 19 . Despite its many capabilities, such as easy access, accessibility at any time and place, ability to communicate, and send information in a variety of ways, as it is completely technology‐based, it may not be used by people having different social, cultural, and information levels 20,21 . In a study on mobile phone‐based education in India, Fozdar & Kumar 22 stated that 69.2% of people consider mobile phones as an immediate learning tool, 72.2% regard mobile phone‐based learning as a new opportunity, and 66.2% believe that it has fast feedback.…”

Understanding barriers of receiving short message service appointment reminders across African regions: a systematic review

“…Five out of nine studies (55.6%) were done by RCT 17–21. Two out of nine studies (22.2%) were done with a cross-sectional study design,22 23 whereas the remaining two studies (22.2%) were done by qualitative methods24 and a mixed method25 of study design accounted for one in each study design. Four out of nine studies (44.4%) were done in Nigeria19 20 and Ethiopia22 24 accounted for two studies in each country.…”

“…Four out of nine studies (44.4%) were done in Nigeria19 20 and Ethiopia22 24 accounted for two studies in each country. The remaining five out of nine studies (55.6%) were done in Burkina Faso,17 Mozambique,18 Tanzania,23 South Africa25 and Cote d’Ivoire21 with one in each country. From the quantitative studies included, the maximum sample size was 3800, which was done in Cote d’Ivoire to assess the effect of SMS on health facility attendance among people living with HIV 21.…”