Mobile health may be an effective way for healthcare providers to reach homeless veterans, according to a study in Telemedicine and e-Health.
Researchers surveyed 106 homeless veterans and found 89 percent own a mobile phone (of those, about one-third own a smartphone). About three-fourths of all respondents used the Internet, and 71 percent of phone owners use text messaging.
The survey also found significant interest in using mobile technology for health-related purposes. Almost all (93 percent) of those surveyed reported interest in receiving reminders about upcoming appointments either by a text or call to their phone and 88 percent said they would like healthcare providers to reach out to them if they have not been seen by a provider in more than a year.
Researchers suggest the results from this survey identify an efficient way for providers to engage more with homeless veterans.
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