Biography
Bagonza is a Data manager who has worked in Ageing and Dementia research for close two years. She is the coordinates and manages all the data resources for the African Research Center 4 Ageing & Dementia (ARCAD). She has presented nationally and International conference conference on dementia related papers.
Claire, T.
Motivations for participating in the use of mobile smart phone App focusing on monitoring of hypertension among older persons in Uganda
Presenter:
Tusiime Claire, Arican Research Center 4 Ageing & Dementia, Uganda
Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes are more prevalent among the older persons. The CVD risk factors contribute to over 60% of NCD related deaths in later years. Therefore, there is an urgent need for strategies to optimally monitor and control CVD risk factors is paramount in averting morbidity and mortality among older persons. A mobile smart phone App focusing on monitoring of hypertension could be an innovative tool to encourage.
Objectives
To explore older persons motivates for participating in eHealth monitoring of blood pressure.
Design
A cross-sectional research using a qualitative approach (HTN SmartApp Study)
Setting and Participants
This is a nested study from the prospective study of “Testing the use of Smartphone App in control of CVD risk factors among older persons in Uganda”. A total of 45 interview guides and 4 focus group discussions were conducted. The study included older persons with a Smart phone, diagnosed with hypertension and he/she is on treatment. Semi- structured questionnaires were employed for data collection.
Results
Eager to know about their blood pressure, benefits from other CVD risk reduction strategies, reminder to take medications, being functionally independent, daily check up their BP numbers, presence of individual at home and being the first cohort to participate in this trial, were some of the prominent motivators to participate in this trial. Although the design of the study could have influenced the reasons to participate in the trial, physical navigating of Mobile SmartApp independently could have been a great motivator.
Conclusion and Implication
Individual benefits and social networks motivated seniors to participate in this trial; such features should be put into consideration while conducting recruitment for older persons for future trials. Additionally, maintenance of level of independence and optimal control of hypertension emerged as a great concern among older person living alone.