mHealth Group
abnormal signs, sudden limb weakness and chest pain, hypertension, diabetes
CHRONIC PAIN, HYPERTENSION, CHRONIC DISEASES, DIABETES
The community center staff helped the participants in the mHealth group download an mHealth app developed by both the research team and a telecommunications company. They also provided one education session to the participants on the use of the app. The mHealth app focused on educating users on signs and symptoms, causes and etiology, risk factors, and techniques for self-managing 3 common chronic health problems (ie, chronic pain, hypertension, and diabetes), and allowing them to record and self-monitor their levels of chronic pain, blood pressure, and blood glucose. There was an educational corner that provided evidence-based videos and written information on self-managing the 3 chronic diseases. The videos and information offered tips on performing healthy behaviors such as following a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity specifically for patients with hypertension and those with diabetes. A nurse updated the contents every 2 weeks. One button in the app was for users to call the nurse in urgent situations. An alarm system was also developed based on the comments of medical doctors, government guidelines, and Hospital Authority working protocols. When a user used the app to report abnormal signs such as sudden limb weakness and chest pain, an alert would immediately be sent to the nurse. The nurse would act appropriately based on a set of working protocols. The protocols for each problem involve 3 components: nurse advice on self-management, referral to social workers, and referral to the next level of care including general practitioners, outpatient departments, and hospitals. They were developed according to the Omaha System [