Background: Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, particularly in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, where HCV prevalence among PWID is above 95%. PWID also demonstrate low access and use of health services. mHealth intervention tools may prove effective for reducing disease risk and increasing access to health services for PWID. However, knowledge of cell phone access within this population is needed before designing such interventions.

Methods: We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of cell phone access among PWID enrolled in the ‘El Cuete’ cohort study in Tijuana. Participants were asked for detailed contact information at baseline—including a cell phone number if available—to facilitate retention. Interviews obtained socio-demographic data, health information, and lifetime/recent drug and sexual risk behaviors. Logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated with providing a cell phone number.

Results: Of 735 participants enrolled, 16% of participants had access to a cell phone at baseline. Mean age was 37 years old, ranging from 18–63. Sixty two percent of participants were male, 96% were Hispanic, and 27% reported recent homelessness. Higher education and a monthly income≥2500 pesos were associated with higher odds of cell phone access. Inversely, homelessness, daily injection drug use, and older age were associated with lower odds of cell phone access.

Conclusions: Cell phone access among PWID in Tijuana is low and should be considered in the design of mHealth interventions targeting this population.

Background: Mobile phone text messaging has become increasingly popular and text-based systems for patients with chronic diseases like diabetes are being rapidly developed. A paucity of information exists about preferences for and acceptance of health-related text messages by patients for self-management support.

Aims: To evaluate the use of mobile phones, acceptance of text messaging, and perspectives on receiving tailored text messages in adults with diabetes.

Methods: A total of 48 subjects were recruited into a randomized controlled study to improve medication adherence; 21 individuals provided responses on technology acceptance and 12 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted at follow-up. After 90 days of tailored text messages, intervention arm subjects provided feedback on acceptance of the technology, personal perspectives on the receipt of tailored materials, and preferences for mobile phone use as part of their diabetes self-management.

Results: On average, participants exchanged less than 10 messages per day and those texting more frequently tended to be younger and owned smartphones. Participants’ perception of the utility and ease of use of text messaging was positive, both of which were more positive among participants with greater perceived competence for managing their diabetes and lower perceived barriers to treatment. Subjects felt that receiving one message per day was appropriate and they benefitted from the content. In general, subjects indicated the messages were primarily useful as reminders rather than a source of new information.

Conclusions: Acceptance of tailored text messages was high in adults with diabetes and subjects felt they could benefit from receiving similar messages in the future.

Background: Research addressing how physicians utilize apps is growing, however, there is little data to show apps improve patient outcomes.

Aims: Develop an iPhone/iPad app to educate physicians on management of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Secondary goals include assessing app utilization and patient outcomes pre/post implementation.

Methods: A web-based app STAB-IT™ (S. aureus bacteremia is terrible) was developed and provides: hospital specific epidemiology, microbiology, diagnosis, management, antibiotics, patient education and quiz. Learning outcome was measured by a pre/post quiz. App use was prospectively monitored using Google analytics and outcomes were retrospectively collected. Patients were eligible if admitted between September 2010 to May 2011 n =222 (i.e. pre-STAB-IT™) and September 2011 to May 2012 n=191 (i.e. post STAB-IT™) with S. aureus bacteremia. Data included age, blood cultures, vancomycin levels, negative blood cultures prior to discharge, infectious diseases consultation, time to consultation, length of stay, mortality, and hospital re-admissions.

Results: Physician knowledge of managing patients with S. aureus bacteremia significantly improved after learning how to navigate STAB-IT™ (50.2% vs. 86.6% p=0.0001). Mean utilization was 50 visitors / month, 217 (61.5%) new visitors and 136 (38.5%) returning visitors. No significant differences were seen in clinical outcomes measured in the post group.

Conclusion: Learning how to navigate a web-based app STAB-IT™ improved physicians knowledge of managing patients with S. aureus bacteremia. Larger studies over a longer time period are needed to further define the relationship between app use and patient outcomes for this common clinical condition.