A smart-phone mobile application solution for the management of hypertension
Date
2014
Authors
Njenga, Margaret Nyambura
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Population health of a country is a very important aspect especially when it
comes to the nation's productivity. With the increase in industrialization, lifestyle
diseases are on the rise. These diseases have to be managed since individuals have to live
with them in their lifetime. Hypertension has been identified as one of the major lifestyle
diseases and is also one of the main causes of cardio-vascular diseases.
A new integrated model that helps patients of hypertension to be able to monitor
their lifestyle and manage it accordingly was designed and a mobile architecture
developed. The application captures parameters important to monitor factors that cause
hypertension. This information can be used by the medical practitioners to effectively
monitor patients' health condition and as a result have a more informed judgment when
giving a prescription. The patient in turn, is able to monitor him or herself in order to
ensure compliance, with the kind of lifestyle and medication.
The resulting mobile application's functionalities were tested with users, doctors
and nurses. The doctors and nurses found that the parameters captured to test various
factors were accurate and could be used to ensure compliance to change in lifestyle
among patients. The patients found the mobile application user friendly, relevant and easy
to use.
This study can be used as a framework for other systems to be built upon. Mobile
developers can use this application as a starting point to develop even better systems for
other lifestyle diseases. Researchers may also build upon this work as a platform for
improved frameworks and models.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunication
Innovation (MSc. MTI)
Keywords
Mobile application, Hypertension, Health, mhealth