Mobile Phone Health - Literature review Example

?Mobile health Mobile health Use of mobile phones has grown at a high rate over the past few years. As such, it has been an essential tool for the current human lifestyles. Society has embraced mobile technology into many of their daily activities including banking, health and even in management of their daily activities. Mobile health has developed through mobile technology promoting the health sector in what constitutes m health or m-health. Key Words Mobile phones, health services. Definitions According to a mobile health summit in 2010, define it as the delivery of health services using mobile technology devices. Mobile health can also refers to the delivery of health needs in respect to medicine, and address of public health concern with utilizing mobile technology gadgets such as cell phones and PDAs. Introduction The rapid growth of the telecommunication industry across the world inclusive of the developing nations has triggered a revolution in the daily operations of the society. This is in particular to the development of the cell phone as a tool of communication and at affordable rates. This has ensured that approximately 50% of the world’s population utilizes mobile phones (Hoyt & Yoshihashi, 2009). Such technological developments have come hand in hand with easier and basic functions such as short messaging services (SMS) which are effective and cheap means of relaying information. Inception of smart phones, which can almost replicate all applications of personal computer enabling easier browsing of the web, GPS navigate as well as communicate through email. Such advances have enhanced m health services. M-Health has evolved from the e health sector, which encompassed the information and communication sector using computers, communication satellites and many others for relay and delivery of health needs as well as give out information on health related issues (Hoyt & Yoshihashi, 2009). In fact, m health directly intertwines with e health where for instance, an application-involving relay and access of health related topics, maybe for a disease requires an e-Health system to organize, manage, store and analyse all data required. M-Health can thus be evaluated as a means of acquiring, storing, processing and accessing data from e-Health systems to give desirable results. Increased, performance, miniaturization, availability, data rates enhancement and expected convergence of such future systems accelerate the development of m-health systems in the next decade, (Istepanian, Laxminarayan & Pattichia 2006). Motivation of m Health The substantial growth in mobile phone access in developing nations to health workers, as well as the whole population contributes to development of m-Health. It helps lower the cost of relaying healthcare information (Duplaga, Ingram & Zielinski, 2006). Low and middle income nations in Africa and Asia, due to various constraints in their health sector display effective m Health usage. Shortcomings in the health sector especially in developing nations also motivate m Health’s growth. These include high population growth curves, high disease quotient, less health practitioners and lack of finances for infrastructure and health systems. Applications of m Health Mobile health has had various applications in the healthcare industry and this include in education and awareness on health issues, giving diagnosis and support treatment. It also assists in communication on health issues, ease training of health workers, tracking of outbreaks and epidemics of various diseases, monitoring and data collection in remote areas as well as be an effective helpline for those in need of health care services (Payton & Tan, 2009). Education and awareness using m health aids relay of mass data through SMS where all stakeholders directly receive information on various health subjects. It is effective and is especially to individuals in remote areas. Information sent across to various individuals assists them in testing, treating and managing of a disease. In New Zealand, doctors send daily text messages to assist in delivery of primary care and appointments to patients. M-Health in diagnosis and support treatment methods helps health practitioners to make decisions in diagnosis, management and treatment of various diseases (Varshney 2009). Some of these systems even go an extra step of giving the actual procedures of dealing with a patient. As such, the cost involved in travel in terms of both finances and time reduces, becoming an effective tool during emergency cases. Mobile health contributes to access of health services through its use as a helpline enabling phone consulting, complaints, counseling and data on health services. Canada for instance has a government sponsored telehealth helpline application. M-health acts as a tool for communication and training for health workers, where it plays the role of a resource center where the health workers can access information as well as a link up with other health institutions and individuals in a bid to get desired medical information. In the same light, it has helped ease the time required to mobilize health workers for training. The reliability of such networks constitutes the ability to provide end-to-end wireless health monitoring when needed and due to potentially life threatening situations, the reliability of message delivery to healthcare professionals is the most crucial in health monitoring (Kudbya, 2010). Mobile health aids in speedy access, collection and transfer of information enabling monitoring of diseases at a location possible. In the same manner, it is also easy to track an outbreak or epidemic in an area and thus promote quick action to mitigate the disease. Accurate data are necessary in enabling the development of health policies and projects and m health has assisted in the data collection (Istepanian, Laxminarayan & Pattichia 2006). Mobile health allows the tracking of patient’s conditions as well as following up on their treatment plans. This is an effective means of managing chronic disease patients. Execution of this is through either a one way or a two-way communication application with the patients. M-Health is also expanding into emergency response, supply of pharmaceuticals as well as patient safety systems, promotion of health and to mobilize communities, continued training of health professionals, voice and SMS telemedicine systems for diagnosis and support for remote health workers in the extension of healthcare services. It has also promoted an m-learning platform for the public as well as in supporting chronic conditions such as diabetes hence the ability to self administer (Wager, 2009). Some of the western countries utilizing m Health applications include New Zealand, Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom (Hoyt & Yoshihashi, 2009). Mobile health has successfully engrossed technology into the health sector promoting communication and delivery of health services. It has also reduced the costs of health care delivery by ensuring that healthcare systems are effective and swift, and this replicates into better management of diseases. It is, however, notable that all m health programs have standard objectives, which are to increase healthcare information access, promote better diagnosis and tracking of diseases, create efficacy both in time and cost utility, in relaying data on public health, and finally in improving and growth of health practitioners training and ongoing education on health issues. Mobile health, by embracing technology into the health sector promotes efficient health contact, develop quality of healthcare by enabling easy access to data also facilitating quick communication to remote areas in need of healthcare services. It has also assisted health workers to make better decisions when dealing with a condition. Bibliography Duplaga, M, Ingram, D & Zielinski, K, 2006 ‘Information Solutions for Healthcare (Health Informatics)’, Springer, the New York. Hoyt, R &Yoshihashi, A, 2009 ‘Medical Informatics: Practical Guide for the Healthcare Professional’, McGraw-Hill, New Jersey. Istepanian, R, Laxminarayan, S & Pattichia, C, 2006 ‘M-Health Emerging Mobile Health Systems’, Springer, New York. Kudbya, S, 2010, ‘Healthcare Informatics: Improving Efficiency and Productivity’ CRC Press, New Jersey. Payton, F & Tan, J, 2009, ‘Adaptive Health Management Information Systems: Concepts, Cases, and Practical Applications’, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Burlington. Varshney, Upkar, 2009, ‘Pervasive Healthcare Computing: EMR/HER, Wireless and Health Monitoring’, Springer, New York. Wager, K, 2009, ‘Healthcare Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management’, Jossey-Bass, Massachusetts. Read More