Vol 5. No. 5, Sept 2012 ISSN 2006-1781 African Journal of Computing & ICT © 2012 Afr J Comp & ICT – All Rights Reserved www.ajocict.net 151 A Framework for the Design of a Mobile-Based Alert System for Outpatient Adherence in Nigeria S.R. Okuboyejo, N.A. Ikhu-Omoregbe, Department of Computer and Information Science Covenant University, Ogun State, Nigeria. sena.okuboyejo@covenantuniversity.edu.ng nomoregbe@covenantuniversity.edu.ng V.W Mbarika College of Business Southern University & A & M College Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA victor@mbarika.com ABSTRACT Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest child and maternal mortality rate. Chronic diseases are the most common contributors to the diseases burden in Nigeria most especially Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. Adherence to long-term therapy in out- patient condition is required to reduce and curb the prevalence of these diseases. Poor adherence to long-term therapies severely compromises the effectiveness of treatment; making this a critical issue in population health both from the perspective of quality of life and of health economics. This work introduces a m-technology based system that will provide an easy way of complying with drug regimen. It will make use of the Short Messaging Service (SMS) of mobile phones to provide reminders at dosing times. It will design architecture for mobile health interventions and develop a prototype SMS-based system to improve out-patient adherence. This system will be deployed over a period of time at selected hospitals and chronic disease management centers in selected states in Nigeria, and the adherence rates measured via health outcomes and evaluated. This would provide a significant positive return on investment through primary prevention (of risk factors) and secondary prevention of adverse health outcomes. It will also inform predictions of future population health outcomes predicted by treatment efficacy data. Keywords: out-patient, m-technology, adherence, chronic diseases, Nigeria, SMS 1. INTRODUCTION In conventional medication monitoring, the doctors only can monitor their patients if they are in the ward. The nurses give the medication on time and make sure the patients take the medication. While the patients are out of hospitals, the doctors have no efficient or reliable methods to monitor their patients and make sure the medications are taken as prescribed and on time. Usually, people do not follow their physician's instructions because of their hectic lifestyle due to their family and work at their office. Moreover, they thought that they have already recovered and do not need to take the medication anymore. Thus, they simply forget or just ignore their medication. Another case is when the patients adjust the dosage of their medication without consulting their physician. African Journal of Computing & ICT Reference Format: S.R. Okuboyejo, N.A. Ikhu-Omoregbe, & V.W. Mbarika (2012). A Framework for the Design of a Mobile-Based Alert System for Outpatient Adherence in Nigeria. Afr J. of Comp & ICTs. Vol 5, No. 5. Pp 151-158 © African Journal of Computing & ICT September , 2012 - ISSN 2006-1781 Many people, particularly those with chronic ailments, feel a need to take control of their problem and therefore they try to do so by taking control of their medication dosage. The desire for an increase in the quality of health care is now a global issue. Prescription medications are the core of most medical treatments. Inappropriate or unjustified prescribing and monitoring practices have already begun to receive policy attention managed-care and institutional environments [Fleurant, 2008]. Medications and their correct usage are considered as the most valuable and cost-effective component of acute and chronic medical management of disease [Cheng et. al., 2009]. Unfortunately, many patients do not take them as directed. The terms that define this phenomenon are non-compliance and non-adherence, both of which refer to the extent to which a person’s behavior (in terms of medications and lifestyle changes) coincides with medical or health advice. This paper introduces Mobile Med Alert, a mobile medical alert system that sends SMS to patients, prompting them to take their drugs. Patients receive alerts on drug intake methods, description and dosages, in order to ensure compliance to drug regimen.