Mobile health round-up: August

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eHealthNews.nz reporter Julie O’Brien

Automated text message support for people with diabetes

With evidence showing that managing diabetes can be difficult, academics at The University of Auckland’s National Institute for Health Innovation (NIHI), have developed a text message-based self-management programme.

The SMSB4G (self-management support for blood glucose intervention) was developed with Waitemata DHB and provides direct information and support for those managing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

In a randomized control trial, the researchers assessed the effectiveness of SMS4BG compared to usual care alone and found that those who received the SMS4BG programme had a greater improvement in their HbA1c, or the measurement of sugar levels in their blood, compared to those in the other group that only received their usual care.

New BMI calculator

The Ministry of Health has launched a new online body mass index calculator to make it easier for New Zealanders to check if they’re in a healthy weight range. Although it has some limitations, BMI is a simple and widely-used screening tool for assessing someone’s weight relative to their height.

The tool gives users practical advice based on their results, like healthy eating, activity and sleep tips. However, people should always discuss their weight with a doctor if they have specific concerns. The BMI calculator is free to access.

Online symptom searching helpful

A new study shows that googling their symptoms allows patients to ask better questions and that they are more likely to understand what their doctor tells them.

The results, published in the Medical Journal of Australia found 80 percent of those who had consulted with Doctor Google before presenting at the emergency department said it meant they asked their doctor more informed questions. About the same number said their online searching also helped them understand what the doctor was telling them.

Australasian College of Emergency Medicine New Zealand faculty chair John Bonning said it was important people sourced information from reputable websites.

FluTracker popular

The Ministry of Health’s FluTracker is proving popular, with thousands of New Zealanders signing up to New Zealand’s first online campaign to monitor influenza.

Results show that the flu rate is unseasonably low, but that it is slowly increasing. The main flu virus this winter is Flu A (H1N1).

Asthma app to help improve medication adherence

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has announced that it has agreed to work with Adherium to improve outcomes for asthma patients, with a special focus on New Zealand children and teenagers, in a collaboration to be known as the Kiwi Kids programme.

Adherium is an award-winning digital health company that improves medication adherence and patient outcomes through its connected respiratory platform called Hailie™.

Through the Hailie™ app, medication use is automatically tracked and missed-dose reminders provided. This has been proven to significantly improve clinical outcomes. The Hailie™ sensor clips on to the patient’s standard prescription inhaler and enables them and their caregiver to review medication usage on the app. The patient can choose to share this information with their health professional when reviewing their asthma management.

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