Remote Resilience: Novel Applications of mHealth in Nicaragua's Cancer Control Program
The following grant was awarded by, is supported by, is administered by or is in partnership with the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Funding Fogarty Program
Mobile Health (mHealth)
Project Information in NIH RePORTER
Remote Resilience: Novel Applications of mHealth in Nicaragua's Cancer Control Program
Principal Institution
University of Virginia
Principal Investigator(s) (PI)
Mitchell, Emma McKim; Almendarez Peralta, Juan Ramon; Dillingham, Rebecca A.
Project Contact Information
Email:
emm6z@virginia.edu
Year(s) Awarded
2022–2024
Country
Nicaragua
Project Description
Despite global advances in technologies to prevent cervical cancer, roughly 90% of the burden of this preventable disease persists in LMICs. Along with the WHO’s call for elimination of cervical cancer within 100 years comes the need for effective innovations for expanding screening and completing follow-up triage and treatment. mHealth interventions integrated into existing HPV-based cervical cancer control programs may significantly impact patient health outcomes and provider engagement.
Based on a successful pilot study enrolling nearly 2,000 women in Bluefields, Nicaragua, researchers have identified the unique role mHealth interventions may play in improving health outcomes when integrated into an HPV primary screening program. Innovations presented include the development of a mHealth platform that combines a patient-centered mobile application (app) with a provider-focused portal, as well as integration of the provider- focused portal with the National Cervical Cancer Surveillance System (SIVIPCAN). Through developing this culturally-tailored, regionally appropriate mHealth intervention for women and healthcare providers and then pilot testing the impact of this intervention when integrated into a community-based HPV-based primary cervical cancer screening program, this study will provide important evidence relative to the potential for novel mHealth interventions to improve cervical cancer screening follow-up and treatment, with a focus on rural and remote settings, often the hardest geographic regions in which to improve health outcomes.
Related World Regions / Countries
Related Global Health Research Topics