Rural patients' access to mobile phones and willingness to receive mobile phone-based pharmacy and other health technology services: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study explores the patient-centered demand for mobile phone-based health (mobile health m-health) services in the rural United States by documenting rural patients\' access to mobile phones and patients\' willingness to receive m-health services. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An anonymous institutional review board-approved survey was completed by patients visiting two rural pharmacies in Nebraska from August to October 2011. Patients who volunteered to complete the survey provided their demographic data- disease state information- health status- mobile phone access- and willingness to receive (in terms of using and giving time to) m-health services. RESULTS: The majority of the 24 survey respondents were 19-40 years old (52%)- female (88%)- married (63%)- with excellent to very good health status (63%)- with no comorbidities (83%)- with with ≤$100 monthly medication expenses (80%), with private insurance (78%), living within 5 miles of their pharmacy (71%), and reporting that m-health services are important to them (75%; 12/16). Approximately 95%, 81%, 73%, and 55% of respondents reported access to a mobile phone, voice mails, text messaging, and mobile phone applications, respectively. Of the respondents, 65%, 57%, 52%, and 48% were willing to receive prerecorded messages for appointment reminders from the doctor, disease information, medication use/self-care information, and symptom monitoring information, respectively. In total, 70%, 63%, 61%, 54%, and 50% were willing to receive prerecorded messages from the pharmacist containing contact requests, new/refill prescription reminders, information on medication problems, reviewing/monitoring of medication use, and medication self-management/preventive screenings/immunizations, respectively. Of 44% (7/16) respondents willing to give time for m-health services, 83% were willing to give 15 min, and 17% were willing to give 30 min every month.

CONCLUSIONS:

By demonstrating rural patients\' demand for m-health (including pharmacy) services, this is one of the first pilot studies showing rural patients have access to mobile phones and may be willing to use and give time to m-health services. Further research is needed on delivery and coordination of transitions in patient-centered care in the United States with m-health services.