Interventions promoting healthy lifestyles in pre-hypertensive people can reduce their blood pressure, delay and prevent arterial hypertension. The accelerated expansion of cell phones in Latin America and the increasing prominence of mobile health in improving population health was the perfect setting for this research, the first study in developing countries using mobile health as a preventive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Aim:

To design, implement and evaluate an intervention based on mobile health strategies, to reduce blood pressure and prevent progression from pre-hypertension to high blood pressure in low-income urban neighborhood dwellers in Argentina, Guatemala, and Peru.

Study design:

This study was a randomized clinical trial with 212 participants per country. The intervention combined telephone counseling (conducted by nutritionists trained in the motivational interviewing technique) with sending of text messages (SMS). For one year, each participant received monthly counseling followed by four SMS messages promoting healthy lifestyles in four areas: physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, consumption of fats and sugars, and intake of salt and high-sodium products.

The validation process of the text messages (SMS), designed to adapt to different stages of change in each of the four behaviors targeted, was carried out in 2011. In February 2012, the recruitment of participants began. They were randomly allocated into the intervention group (receiving telephone counseling and SMS) or the control group (usual health care).

Those assigned to the intervention group received a motivational interview via telephone once a month. During this call, the participant chose which topic they wanted to work on and proposed their health goals, which were evaluated in the following month’s call.

Result:

Concluded.

Contact:

Francisco Diez Canseco, MPH
‪fdiezcanseco@upch.pe‬