OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of TB patients who have access to mobile phones and to describe mobile phone utilization practices of TB patients.
METHODS: Six public and six private TB clinics representing the four districts of Metro Manila and one institution in Cavite were purposively selected for this cross-sectional survey conducted in 2006. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, patients suspected to have TB, those newly diagnosed and those currently on treatment under either DOTS or non-DOTS were interviewed.
RESULTS: Of the 337 patients interviewed, 65% (95% CI 60.2 to 70.6) have access to mobile phones (45% currently own a mobile phone and 20% share a mobile phone with a household member). The mean duration of ownership was 1.8 years (SD1.7). Almost all had prepaid subscriptions (99%) and 72% had some credit/load in their mobile phones at the time of interview. Of the three existing networks, subscription to SMART was highest, followed by the Globe network. Most of them use their phones for social purposes and emergency-related communications. Most of the respondents were male (60%) in the age group of 20-39 (54%) and 40-59 years old (33%). Half of the respondents were from public TB clinics (52%). On multivariable analysis, patients consulting in private clinics [OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.74], belonging to the younger age of < 20 [OR 4.54, 95% CI 1.48 to 13.89] and 20 - 39 years old [OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.48 to 4.39], who had college education [OR 4.97, 95% CI 1.84 to 13.43] and currently employed [OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.92 to 5.47] were more likely to have access to mobile phones.
CONCLUSION: Considering the fair access (65%) to mobile phones of the patients interviewed, it is feasible to conduct a pilot intervention using SMS as a strategy to improve adherence to treatment. The intervention should consider that majority use prepaid subscriptions and that sharing of phones among household members is a common practice.

Human ; Male ; Ownership ; Syndactyly, Type I ; Pilot Projects ; Cell Phone ; Health Facilities ; Communication

To establish reference values for lung function test in Filipinos, 283 (130 males and 153 females) normal non-smoking (< 0.5 pack years), adults were studied using a body plethysmograph (Jaeger, West Germany). Spirometric indices were integrated from a pneumotachograph (linear at flows between 0-20 1/sec with ± 2% error). Spirometric performance and measurements followed the ATS Snowbird Workshop recommendations. Lung volumes and airway resistance (Raw) were taken from the average of three plethysmographic determinations.

Multiple linear regressions with backward elimination was done. The data obtained was regressed against independent variables of age height, weight, and body surface area for each sex.

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the regression equations for most parameters were significant at = 0.01. In a few parameters were significance was = 0.05. Only in Raw was the regression model not significant. The coefficient of determination (R) of our regression equations were low (<0.50). However, such low R have been observed in other predictions equations which have gained widespread acceptance, attesting to their clinical usefulness. Ninety five percent confidence interval was used to determine the lower limit of normal for FEV1 and FVC. Since the other parameters showed greater individual variability, cumulative percentiles of % of predicted were determine instead (Knudson 1977). For performance test, the 5th percentiles of % of predicted was computed. For lung volumes, the 5th and 95th percentiles were determined. For Raw, the 95th percentiles of the actual values was used. Since there were fewer subjects above the age of 60 years, the use of these equations is subject to this limitation.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Smoking ; Lung ; Analysis Of Variance ; Population