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Evaluating Network Readiness for mHealth Interventions Using the Beacon Mobile Phone App: Application Development and

Thomas Foster Scherr1, Carson Paige Moore1, Philip Thuma2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.

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Mobile health (mHealth) readiness can be assessed using the Beacon tool, which evaluates mobile network performance in low-resource settings. This technology helps optimize global health interventions by identifying network limitations and connectivity issues.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Mobile Health Interventions
  • Health Informatics

Background:

  • Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer transformative potential for global healthcare.
  • Increasing mobile phone use worldwide presents opportunities, yet stakeholders question intervention feasibility.
  • mHealth can overcome geographic, financial, and social barriers to quality healthcare when implemented effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and validate Beacon, a mobile phone-based tool for assessing mHealth readiness in global health.
  • To understand the mobile network landscape in Macha, Zambia, through an application validation study.

Main Methods:

  • Beacon, an automated mobile app, was developed to collect spatiotemporal data and measure network performance indicators.
  • The tool was deployed in Macha, Zambia, in 2019, collecting data even without network connectivity.
  • Collected data was asynchronously uploaded for analysis, enabling robust evaluation.

Main Results:

  • Beacon evaluated three mobile networks in Macha, Zambia, with Carriers A and B showing high download/upload success rates (95-97% downloads, 84-89% uploads).
  • Carrier C exhibited significantly lower performance (4.5% downloads, 0% uploads).
  • Network performance analysis revealed optimal download speeds between 2-5 AM and performance degradation from 5 PM onwards.

Conclusions:

  • Beacon effectively compares cellular network performance, identifies peak load times, and maps network "dead zones."
  • This tool is valuable for organizations implementing or planning mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Beacon supports feasibility assessments and optimization of logistics for existing mHealth programs.