Mobile phone-based behavioural interventions for health: A systematic review
Abstract
Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature concerning behavioural mobile health (mHealth) and summarize points related to heath topic, use of theory, audience, purpose, design, intervention components, and principal results that can inform future health education applications. Design: A systematic review of the literature. Method: Thirty-four interventions published in peer-reviewed journals before July 2010, employing a short message service (SMS) and/or multimedia message service to address health-related behavioural change, were reviewed. Results: Five interventions utilized SMS alone, 18 employed SMS/Internet, and 11 utilized SMS, Internet, and other strategies. Intervention length ranged from four weeks to one year. Twenty interventions (59%) were evaluated using experimental designs, and most resulted in statistically significant health behavioural changes. Conclusion: Surveillance of mHealth interventions’ role in facilitating behavioural change is a judicious parallel activity for health education and health behaviour authorities.
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Several papers suggested a lack of rigorous cost-effectiveness analysis in current digital health studies.
“Notably, several papers suggested the lack of rigorous cost-effectiveness analysis in the current digital health studies25,29,47.”
From Digital health interventions for non-communicable disease management in primary health care in low-and middle-income countries (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
Incorporating behavioral theories in digital health design is a facilitator, and the absence of that could be a barrier.
“Incorporating behavioral theories in digital health design is a facilitator, and the absence of that could be a barrier.”
From Digital health interventions for non-communicable disease management in primary health care in low-and middle-income countries (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
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- Authors
- Buhi, E. R., Trudnak, T. E., Martinasek, M. P., Oberne, A. B., Fuhrmann, H. J., & McDermott, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Venue
- Health Education Journal
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-07-10
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 564-583
- ISSN
- 0017-8969 (ISSN-L)
- 1748-8176
- OpenAlex
- W2030365812
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 1.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Education Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Mobile Learning in Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- mobile health, behavioral interventions, health behavior change, short message service, multimedia messaging, health education, intervention design, theory-based intervention
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