Development of an ICT solution to obtain annual, national, representative health indicator data for non-communicable diseases – a pilot study

Introduction

World Health Assembly: (Norway consented)

• Reduce premature deaths of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) with 33% by 2030, relative to 2015 levels

World Health Organization NCD‘s (in this context)

• Cardiovascular disease

• Cancer

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Diabetes

Health Indicators (underlying risk factors)

• Overweight

• Unhealthy diet

• Physical inactivity

• Harmful alcohol consumption

• Tobacco use

Objectives of pilot study

• Develop a mobile phone ICT solution

• Collect relevant data

• Examine the response rate

• Identify successes and roadblocks

• Identify two collaborative countries

• Submit a proposal to Horizon 2020 for a full study

Materials and Methods

Study population

• A random national sample of 11000 men and women

• 1000 from each of the 11 counties as of January 1, 2020

• Age 16-69 years

• Registered with a mobile phone number

Survey questions (self-reported)

• Current weight and height (2)

• Selected questions on dietary intake (7)

• Alcohol consumption (3 from AUDIT)

• Physical activity (4 from IPAQ)

• Tobacco /e-cigarette use (3)

Data storage and analyses

• Healtcom AS has transferred the de-identified data to RedCap, University Hospital of North Norway

Results

Response rate : Overall 21.0 %;

Lowest : 18% Vestlandet; Highest 26% Trøndelag.

Distribution of participants (N=2,303)

• Sex : 38% Men - 62% Women

• Age : 14% 16-29 years; 35% 30-49 years , 51% 50-69 years

• Education : ≤ 10 years 13%, 11-13 years 34%, 14-16 years

25%, ≥ 17 years 28%

Strengths

• Random sample of the Norwegian population

• Simple survey that takes five minutes to complete

• Information about the five major health indicators for developing NCD’s

• Information on important background variables of the participants

Limitations

• Low response rate

• Several personnel and technical roadblocks during the last phase of the pilot project

Relevant Horizon 2020 calls

• Information and Communication Technologies

• Societal Challenges

Conclusions

• We were able to provide a “snapshot“ from Norway, October 2019, regarding the distribution of five important health indicators for developing NCD’s.

• More women than men responded. The overall response rate was lower than anticipated. We are currently examining reasons for non-participation.

• We want to find out if we can improve and expand this survey in Norway and initiate a collaboration with two other countries with the goal of submitting an application to a relevant Horizon 2020 call, before June 30th, 2020.