Global mHealth - Episode 27
Amanda Keylor, Healthcare Analyst

Do you remember back in the when you didn’t have a cell phone? How long ago was that? 10 years ago? 5 years ago for some of you laggards? Even fewer than 5 years for some Luddite holdouts? Yet today, the mobile phone is an arguably and practically indispensable necessity.  Recent Manhattan Research studies found that in the United States, 186 million adults own a cell phone and in Europe 97% of online adults own one.  And that’s just the adults. Heck, even kids have mobile phones – and I don’t just mean the eTrade baby. We all know that kids under 18 have cell phones and the age of initial ownership gets younger and younger, in some places it’s allegedly 8 years old. So while there has been much talk lately about the future of mobile phones as the market approaches saturation, the next wave of mobile development may need to focus on applications, integration and capabilities.

Speaking of applications and capabilities, what was one of the most anticipated cell phone releases? Ah yes, the iPhone. Capabilities (though lacking in some) and applications are part of what has driven the iPhone’s popularity. A platform where programmers can build their own applications opens a lot of doors for iPhone users. A quick review of the most popular iPhone applications reveal many revolving around health – calorie counters, weight loss coaches, workout trackers, and a symptom checker from WebMD Mobile application. Looking at this type of innovation makes it easy to see how one’s mobile phone can hold a lot of potential for managing health.

Already in the US 54.2 million online adults have browsed the internet on their cell phones and 10.2 million online adults have looked up health information on their cell phones in the last year.  In the next few years as people become more dependent on their mobile phones for internet connectivity and more websites offer mobile optimized versions of their sites, mobile phone use for health related tasks will continue to rise.  Some of the applications are already available like medication or appointment reminders by text, food diaries by text message. Some top condition groups using text messaging are acne, ADHD, eczema, ear infections and allergies. If you suffered from allergies, wouldn’t it be nice to get regular text updates alerting you to high pollen counts before you leave your house in the morning? Remember to grab your medication on your way out the door. Or maybe tracking your insulin levels gets to be a hassle, but when you combine mobile technology delivering health education and awareness with initiatives like Google Health monitoring vital information like heart rate, insulin levels or blood pressure, you’re looking at an impressively connected health outcome.

The beauty of technology is that this isn’t limited to just one country or region, obviously. Globally speaking the mobile phone is quickly proving to be just as indispensable in developing nations. The United Nations recently released a report saying that the global organization is partnering with Vodafone and Rockefeller Foundation’s mHealth Alliance to show how mobile technology can benefit healthcare outcomes. This isn’t just texting someone to find out where the party is, this is life changing, life saving applications of technology.  Programs in Africa and parts of Latin America use text messages to increase compliance with treatment programs. Given that many populations have better access to mobile phones than some other resources, the equation starts to look like this. Accessibility plus inexpensive mobile phones equals the opportunity change lives around the globe.

In places like South Africa where HIV/AIDS carries a serious stigma, consumers can receive text messages privately that help promote AIDS awareness and education. Or in Thailand, a mobile phone program helped to attain 90% compliance with TB patients.  With a mobile phone program, physicians or even healthcare workers can help patients stay on track and benefit from updated healthcare information and tracking systems. And even back stateside, the SexInfoSf.org campaign created a text message service for sexually active youth to help stem the spread of STDs among the population. The importance of the cell phone is not to be underestimated. This really does hold life saving potential.

So while it may seem like a stretch for some people to see how their cell phone can help them improve their health, not so long ago, people wondered why they needed a cell phone in the first place; after all, they already had a landline and payphones were omnipresent. This mobile health technology should not be ignored.

If you’re into mobile technology or social networking as it relates to health, follow us on Twitter - @manhattanresear (without the ch) for more interesting tidbits on the intersection of health and technology. If you have questions, comments, or a topic you’d like to suggest for a podcast, please feel free to email us at podcast@manhattanresearch.com.

That concludes today’s podcast, and thank you for joining.




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