| Aims: To estimate the proportion of TB patients who have access to mobile phones and to describe mobile phone utilization practices of these patients in Chongqing, to understand features of TB patients, so as to provide feasibility basis for further intervention of SMS reminder systems;Method: Stratified cluster sampling method was used and four districts were selected according to the economic level and TB incidence rate. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to interview the TB patients and suspects who had come to the TB dispensaries during two months. There were 1248 questionnaires been collected (97,5% of response rate) and 16 persons been interviewed. Data was double entered using EpiData 3.1. Describe the basic situation of patients who have access to the mobile phones, the association of mobile phones and SMS utilization parameters with key variables was determined using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. MAXQDA was used to manage, code and retrieve the qualitative data, and thematic framework approach was used to analyze the data.Result: Of the 1248 cases interviewed by quantitative research, 67.7% were males,and the average age was 39.5±16.7 years old, there were 63.1% patients between 19-49 years old, 38.6% were famers, average income of most families were below 5000 Yuan. Among all the respondents, 80% were confirmed diagnosed, of these persons, mostly were initial treatment, accounting for 90.5%. Only a few patients who were in the medicine adhered to supervision from doctors(20.3%), 55.4% were self-medication regularly with no supervision, and few patients(2.4%) had taken medicines with no regulation. Of the patients interviewed by quantitative research, mobile phone ownership rate was 91.1%, 914 cases (80.4%)of the respondents were able to receive text messages, most people (81%) hold favorable opinion on SMS reminders. Chi-square test analysis revealed that the main factors relevant to mobile phone ownerships were age, occupation, education level and place of residence. On multivariable analysis, male patients belonging to the 19-49 years old age groups, with education level of high school or higher were more likely to have access to mobile phones. Age, occupation, education and incomes were the main factors on receiving SMS. Male patients, 19-49 years old group and education level of high school or higher were more likely to receive SMS. the results from qualitative interview were similar.Conclusion: Former research showed that lack of related knowledge, adverse reactions, coupled with poor economic conditions led to poor adherence and finally, some patients failed in treatments, so it is of necessity to conduct an intervention like using SMS on improving TB adherences. In our study, mobile phone ownership rate was 91.1% and most patients hold favorable attitude to SMS reminder system both supported a high feasibility to the reminder system. Deep analysis on effect factors of ownership and receiving SMS could provide important research basis for reminder intervention. Of the factors investigated, age, occupation, education level and place of residence had statistical significance, the multivariable analysis showed that male patients belonging to the 19-49 years old age groups, with high education level were more likely to have access to mobile phones. It is the same factors of receiving SMS and also the average income became an important factor. The 19-49 years old age group have more frequent social activity, they like to pursue new things, hope to have mobile phones, people with high education level are more likely to access mobile phones and understand the function of SMS than the low education group. However, there were still limitations, some patients did not willing to tell their real income until repeatedly been asked, thus we could not remove the discrepancies from actual situations, in addition, the study only stands for the situation of Chongqing partial area county, may only provide reference for other related research. |
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