DOH taps technology to collect non-communicable diseases data

“Results of the survey will be used to help the DOH measure and come up with its strategies, and develop policies to address the NCD problems,” Duque said. (Photo: Department of Health (Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA –The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said that it will engage at least 3,000 cellphone users in the country as respondents in a mobile phone survey focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the questions will center more about the habits related to NCDs.

“Results of the survey will be used to help the DOH measure and come up with its strategies, and develop policies to address the NCD problems,” Duque said.

He said that the mobile phone survey project, which the department targets to finish in one month, will randomly pick participants’ number through computer-generated procedure.

In using mobile technology as a tool to evaluate the NCDs in the country, Duque appealed to the public to give honest answers on the queries.

“I appeal to the public who may receive a text or a link to a website for the NCD Survey to take the time to seriously participate in this survey and give their best and honest replies,” he said.

He also assured that identities and personal information of the respondents will not be disclosed or will remain confidential.

Some of the questions, which the respondents may choose to answer in Filipino or English, will be about person’s tobacco and alcohol use, diet, blood pressure, diabetes, and demographics.

The answers of respondents can be sent via SMS or text, which is free for all mobile phone subscribers; or via mobile web, where a link to the website will be sent to subscribers but free only for Smart and Sun subscribers.

Meanwhile for Globe subscribers, the agency recommended them to connect first to a wifi to complete the survey to avoid data charges.

According to the World Health Organization-Western Pacific Regional Office, a significant proportion of Filipino adults continue to be exposed to NCDs due to risks of tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.

“This in turn, make millions of Filipinos vulnerable to develop NCDs in the future,” WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler told a previous press briefing about the ill-effects of tobacco use.

In the Philippines, NCDs are listed as among the top cause of deaths.

Ischemic heart diseases or the “hardening of the arteries” continue to be the leading cause of death in the Philippines with more than 74,000 cases recorded in 2016.