2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Online Program

334876
Impact of Telemedicine on Preventing & Managing Diabetes and Obesity Health Disparities Among African American Populations in Louisiana


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

Kaleb Hill, FitnessFleet, Inc., New Orleans, LA
BACKGROUND Obesity and Diabetes are two conditions that disproportionately impact African-Americans (AA) in the United States (US). These chronic conditions increase the risk of other costly health conditions, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC) accounted for 66% of healthcare spending in the US (AHRQ). Approximately 10% of Louisiana residents have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician (BRFSS 2010). Specifically, AA have the highest prevalence of diabetes, with a 12.9% diagnosis rate, compared to 8.1% of Hispanics and 9.2% of the white population (BRFSS). Within the U.S., 85% of adults own a cell phone where 53% own smartphones. One in three cell phone owners (31%) use their phone to search health information. In comparison, according to the Pew Research Center, 17% of cell phone owners used their phones to search for health advice.” (Pew Research Center)

PURPOSE The purpose of this presentation is to communicate the effectiveness of a telehealth intervention, for persons at-risk for diabetes and obesity using an innovative mobile health application, Shipshape App™, outside a primary care setting to diagnose, monitor, and provide multi-disease care management. 

METHODS The proposed research aims to use the community engagement method to develop the ShipShape software App that is compatible with a wearable telehealth platform, Juxtopia® Imhotep, for serving Louisiana’s medically underserved population who are adversely affected by MCC where ShipShape App provides diagnoses, monitoring, and disease management services to improve consumer/patient outcomes. Participants answered questions regarding their perceptions using mobile health technology to manage chronic health conditions as well as their general health, family medical history, health behaviors, and awareness. 

CONCLUSIONS The results of the survey highlighted the disparities among patients living with multiple chronic conditions; their ability to manage their behavioral changes, eating habits, physical activity levels; and their adherence to personalized diagnostic and disease management services using Shipshape App™.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Identify the impact of telehealth on managing chronic health conditions using mobile health technology.

Keyword(s): Diabetes, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator in this study. My company's scientific interests focus on addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4422.0: Improving HIT Efficiency and Effectiveness Through Interoperability and Twenty-First Century Digital Innovations for Medical Treatment