Text-Messaging for Health Still Has Its Challenges

At first glance, text-messaging health alerts to poor, rural populations with widespread mobile phone use is a no-brainer. But what about the challenges of providing useful information and the simple act of re-charging phones in isolated spots?

Josh Nesbit, CEO of Medic Mobile, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, said in the absence of readily available electricity, there are some alternative fixes. A device used in Tanzania and some other countries allows bicyclists to charge their phones while they ride. Also, small, individualized solar panels can be purchased for little money and shared in the community to charge phones. On the big question of whether people will actually use the text-messages, Nesbit said studies are underway. His company maps out a behavior chain gauging people's access to phones and cell towers, and what incentives are in place for people to use them, such as credits and other payments. But when it comes down to it, the system has to deliver for the user to be motivated to use it, he said. Despite all of the challenges, there is progress, especially in the area of collecting health information. "Health is very data-driven, so a lot of the decisions being made within programs rely heavily on the data that's being collected" on PDAs -- or palmtop computers -- and now with smart phones, said Mechael. Instead of taking a year to collect the information, it arrives much faster by phone and can keep pace with changing medical needs, she said.