Date
5-16-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Keith Pelletier
Keywords
mHealth, Wearable devices, Hypertension control, Cardiovascular disease, African-born immigrants, Smartwatches, Digital health equity
Disciplines
Health Information Technology | Medicine and Health Sciences
Recommended Citation
Bryant, Nelson McNova, "A Causal Relationship Between Mobile Health Wearable Devices’ Use and Improved Hypertension Management in African-born Immigrants Aged 45-75 in Maricopa County, Arizona" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5518.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5518
Abstract
The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if differences exist between the use of mHealth wearable devices, specifically smartwatches, and the improvement in hypertension control. The target participants were 100 African-born immigrants, both males and females aged 45-75 who lived in Maricopa County, Arizona. In the study, 100 research participants with a hypertension diagnosis were divided into two equal groups. Group 1 consisted of 50 African-born immigrants who used mHealth wearable devices, specifically the Dafit M2 smartwatches to manage hypertension (which they received for free from the researcher). Group 2 consisted of 50 African-born immigrants who used a regular sphygmomanometer to check their blood pressure. All participants measured and recorded their blood pressure for six weeks on blood pressure forms and completed questionnaires at the conclusion of the study via encrypted Google Form links. The researcher used independent, paired samples T-test and Pearson Chi-square statistical tests for data analysis in SPSS 29.0. The study yielded two statistically significant results for RQ1. First, the MAP at the end of six weeks of the study was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001) with a - 4 mmHg difference based on independent samples T-test, resulting in H02 rejection. Second, the paired samples T-test showed that group 1 participants achieved a better MAP at the end of the study than before they participated in the study, with a reduction in MAP of - 3 mmHg (p = 0.005), leading to reject H07. For RQ2, the Chi-Square test of independence results showed no significant differences in the crosstabulation of several variables with the awareness of the highest consequences of poorly managed hypertension, which correlated with several previous studies.
