The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana

Introduction Sedentary lifestyle and consumption of an unhealthy diet are significantly associated with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. Increasing the uptake of physical activity and diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been a challenge in the region. This study aimed at assessing the effect of...

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Main Authors: Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo, Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni, Paa-Kwesi Blankson, Fiifi Duodu, Bamidele O Tayo, Biodun Sulyman Alabi, Daniel F Sarpong, Mary Amoakoh-Coleman, Vincent Boima, Gbenga Ogedegbe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241297035
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author Chidiebere Peter Echieh
Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo
Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni
Paa-Kwesi Blankson
Fiifi Duodu
Bamidele O Tayo
Biodun Sulyman Alabi
Daniel F Sarpong
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
Vincent Boima
Gbenga Ogedegbe
author_facet Chidiebere Peter Echieh
Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo
Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni
Paa-Kwesi Blankson
Fiifi Duodu
Bamidele O Tayo
Biodun Sulyman Alabi
Daniel F Sarpong
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
Vincent Boima
Gbenga Ogedegbe
author_sort Chidiebere Peter Echieh
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Sedentary lifestyle and consumption of an unhealthy diet are significantly associated with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. Increasing the uptake of physical activity and diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been a challenge in the region. This study aimed at assessing the effect of a mobile health intervention (mhealth) on physical activity, and fruits and vegetables intake in patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana Methods The study was a quasi-experimental study conducted in Mamprobi Hospital (MH) in Ghana, and State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Nigeria. One hundred and sixteen consenting adult patients with hypertension were consecutively recruited and given regular reminders on physical activity and intake of fruits and vegetables via mobile app (mnotify ® ) for six months. All participants were followed up for six months and data collected at Baseline, three months and six months. Analysis was done using Stata 14 software (StataCorp. College Station, TX) assuming an alpha level of 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from both countries and ethical standards were followed. Results A total of 116 (53 from Ghana and 63 from Nigeria) patients with hypertension participated in the study. Respondents had a mean age of 61.0 ± 9.1 years, and were mostly females (64.7%). There was an increase in the level of physical activity which was significant by the third month ( p  < 0.0001) but became insignificant by the 6 th month ( p  = 0.311). Fruits and vegetables intake also improved at 3 months ( p  = 0.054) and significantly at 6 months ( p  = 0.002). Conclusion The study found the use of telehealth as an effective tool for the delivery of adjunct therapy for lifestyle modification in the management of hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. It is therefore recommended that telehealth be incorporated into the management of hypertension and other chronic diseases for better health outcome.
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spelling doaj-art-5252ab19f70b499baf21f9c17d804eab2024-11-12T09:03:55ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762024-11-011010.1177/20552076241297035The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and GhanaChidiebere Peter Echieh0Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo1Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni2Paa-Kwesi Blankson3Fiifi Duodu4Bamidele O Tayo5Biodun Sulyman Alabi6Daniel F Sarpong7Mary Amoakoh-Coleman8Vincent Boima9Gbenga Ogedegbe10 Clinical Translational Science, , Tucson, Arizona, USA Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria Lifestyle and Behavioural Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, , Irrua, Nigeria Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, /Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, , Accra, Ghana Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana Department of Public Health Sciences, Stritch School of Medicine, , Maywood, Illinois, USA Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, , Ilorin, Nigeria Department of General Internal Medicine, , New Haven, Connecticut, USA Department of Epidemiology, , , Legon, Accra-Ghana University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, , Accra, Ghana Department of Population Health, , New York, NY, USAIntroduction Sedentary lifestyle and consumption of an unhealthy diet are significantly associated with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. Increasing the uptake of physical activity and diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been a challenge in the region. This study aimed at assessing the effect of a mobile health intervention (mhealth) on physical activity, and fruits and vegetables intake in patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana Methods The study was a quasi-experimental study conducted in Mamprobi Hospital (MH) in Ghana, and State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Nigeria. One hundred and sixteen consenting adult patients with hypertension were consecutively recruited and given regular reminders on physical activity and intake of fruits and vegetables via mobile app (mnotify ® ) for six months. All participants were followed up for six months and data collected at Baseline, three months and six months. Analysis was done using Stata 14 software (StataCorp. College Station, TX) assuming an alpha level of 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from both countries and ethical standards were followed. Results A total of 116 (53 from Ghana and 63 from Nigeria) patients with hypertension participated in the study. Respondents had a mean age of 61.0 ± 9.1 years, and were mostly females (64.7%). There was an increase in the level of physical activity which was significant by the third month ( p  < 0.0001) but became insignificant by the 6 th month ( p  = 0.311). Fruits and vegetables intake also improved at 3 months ( p  = 0.054) and significantly at 6 months ( p  = 0.002). Conclusion The study found the use of telehealth as an effective tool for the delivery of adjunct therapy for lifestyle modification in the management of hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. It is therefore recommended that telehealth be incorporated into the management of hypertension and other chronic diseases for better health outcome.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241297035
spellingShingle Chidiebere Peter Echieh
Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo
Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni
Paa-Kwesi Blankson
Fiifi Duodu
Bamidele O Tayo
Biodun Sulyman Alabi
Daniel F Sarpong
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
Vincent Boima
Gbenga Ogedegbe
The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
Digital Health
title The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
title_full The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
title_fullStr The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
title_full_unstemmed The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
title_short The use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana
title_sort use of telehealth technology for lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in nigeria and ghana
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241297035
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