Role of Mobile Technology in Multiple Sclerosis Patients' Health Education

ABSTRACT Background Many African and Asian randomized clinical trials stated that mobile health technology is helpful in health education and improvement of patients' compliance to medical treatment especially in chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Objectives Mobile health applications can provide a health education method for MS patients and a tool for assessment of patients' compliance to medical treatment among MS patients of the Arabic speaking population. Patients and method Type of Study: Prospective comparative observational study, tool: android MS world App, study setting: arabic speaking communities, study duration: six months, study population: multiple sclerosis patients, sampling method: random, sample size 100 patients, 50 study group using the app, 50 control group non app users. Results In the present study, we revealed that total number of patients on the app of the studied group, 60(51.72%) were male and 56(46.28%) were female, and as regard number of active patients on the app of the studied groups, we found that 19(40.43%) were male and 28(59.57%) were female with 3cases dropped out. We analyzed patients in different Egyptian governments of the studied group, Most of our cases were from Cairo 66(69.47%), 9(9.47%) from Giza, 4(4.21%) from Damietta, 2(2.11%) from Alexandria, 2(2.11%) from Gharbia, 2(2.11%) from Qalyoubia, 2(2.11%) from Suez and 6(6.32%) from Upper Egypt. Regarding age characteristics of the studied group most of our cases in active case group and control group their age was ranged between 21—40 years 25(53.19%) and 27(54%) respectively there was statistically significant difference between study group where P < 0.001. Regarding duration since diagnosis of the studied groups, the present study demonstrated that most of cases in active case group and control group their duration since diagnosis was ranged between 1—5 years 30(63.83%) and 31(62%) respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between study groups where P = 0.949. Regarding the MS world Application questions, we found that61.70%of studied cases find that the app easy and simple touse,87.23% that app present the information in easy and simple way, 89.36% find that app provide with satisfying answers about MS, 95.74% were confident about information presented in that app, 93.62% find that app increase the knowledge about the drugs are taking for MS and 74.47% reported that app made them not to miss taking their drugs doses regularly. On the other hand, we found that 63.83% of cases saw that app help them overcome the usual fatigue symptoms they used to have with MS, 89.36% of cases saw that doctors in the app are good, 93.62% will use that app again and 95.74% will suggest that app for friends and that app also a tool for storing information about the patient making the doctor able to take a decision and cope with the patient condition. We have found that patients are easy to get answer embarrassing questions like that asking about their sexual condition and satisfaction after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis the results of the questionnaire revealed that about 19 (40.43%) patients aren’t satisfied while the rest of patients in the active case study group 28 (59.57%) patients reported they are satisfied meaning that all patients in the active group answered the question in contrast to the control group asked through paper questionnaire the results revealed that 23 patients reported they are not satisfied and about 15 patients reported they are satisfied about it meaning that not patients in the control group answered the question with 12 patients didn’t answer the question that could add the advantage of mobile health apps in recording easily embarrassing questions rather than conventional methods. Conclusion Mobile health applications can provide a health education method for MS patients and a tool for assessment of patients' compliance to medical treatment among MS patients of the Arabic speaking population.