A Longitudinal Survey of Health in Bolivia

Within Latin America, there is a significant lack of data about the medical management and self-care for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and hypertension. In an effort to improve availability of such data in the Latin American region, the World Health Organization (WHO) created and tailored a survey tool that has been used in various countries throughout Central and South America. Our own research team has extensive experience surveying clinic-based populations in Latin America regarding their chronic disease burden and the potential effectiveness of novel approaches to self-care support via mobile phones. The objective of the planned project is to gather baseline surveillance data for non-communicable diseases in urban and peri-urban Bolivian communities, using the WHO instrument as a foundation with modifications to reflect local public health priorities and the goal of developing mobile health services that improve self-management support.

This project will be conducted by investigators and students of the University of Michigan Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Information, in partnership with the Catholic University of Bolivia, San Pablo (UCB-San Pablo). The over-arching aim is to conduct a longitudinal survey of health indicators in a variety of primary and ambulatory care sites within clinics associated with Universidad Católica Boliviana, including SEDES La Paz and Universidad Mayor San Andres, in La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia. The survey is based on: a) the World Health Organizations' Division of Disease Prevention and Control's Program on Non-Communicable Diseases' (NCD) Surveillance Toolkit: Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases, with the addition of b) the 8 Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) to screen for Depression, c) the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), d) the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) Questionnaire, e) questions developed by our research team regarding the feasibility and desirability of mobile health monitoring and self-care support and f) 8 item Morisky Medication use questions. By using validated survey instruments, the investigators will be able to compare health indicators across countries and provide the participating Bolivian government agencies and universities information crucial to understanding the factors contributing to the development and maintenance of NCD services in Bolivia. Specifically, this study will provide baseline data, which does not exist to date, identifying the prevalent risk factors for NCDs and the barriers to those patients' care. More generally, the investigators will gain invaluable experience regarding the feasibility of enrolling large representative samples in various outpatient sites for use in subsequent observational studies of NCD management and in randomized trials.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• Existing diagnosis (per medical record) of at least 1 chronic health issue: diabetes, hypertension, cardiac issues, angina, high cholesterol, depression, cancer, stroke, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, migraine headaches, heartburn, acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome, stomach or duodenal ulcers, chronic back pain or sciatica, asthma, history of gestational diabetes (female), history of polycystic ovary syndrome (female)
• If no existing diagnosis of at least 1 chronic health issue, then clinical indicator patient may be at risk of diabetes (has a close relative with diabetes, female patient who delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds); PHQ-2 score between 3-6, BMI >25; or, Systolic BP over 140

Exclusion criteria

• Life-threatening health problem such as cancer with less than a six month life expectancy
• Are visiting the clinic for an urgent health problem (for themselves)
• If they have severe mental illness as reported by their clinical team