Use of a mobile application to engage communities in monitoring tobacco industry interference: A case study of community driven tobacco surveillance system

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Centre for Combating Tobacco (CCT) is the tobacco observatory in Sri Lanka established under the WHO FCTC article 5.3. Resource-efficient methods to engage public in monitoring tobacco industry interference and activities (TIIA) in low-resource settings are needed. METHODS: "TobaccoUnmasked HotSpots"(TU-HotSpots) mobile application was developed and launched in two stages. The preliminary launch, in May 2018, was to pilot the app for feasibility and acceptability. In March 2019, Community Driven Tobacco Surveillance System (CDTSS), a community network to monitor TIIA using the now-upgraded, app following the piloting, was launched. Freely downloadable from any mobile app store, TU-HotSpots enables registered users to report TIIA under three categories:"Report-a-HotSpot" (geographical location circa FCTC articles 5.3, 6, 12, 13, 15, 16), "Interference-through-Media" (Article 13) and "Tobacco-Industry-contacted-me" (Article 5.3). Data thus reported is approved following review by the CCT team, and published via the TU-HotSpots Map, a website with an interactive map and a dashboard. RESULTS: In the Post-launch evaluation, 91.4% (n=54) stated that TU-HotSpots would be useful in tobacco control, while 82.8% (n=48) stated the public would accept it. Inadequate technological knowledge and sub optimal on line connectivity were the perceived challenges for implementation. Active promotion via training sessions for youth and government field officers were the main suggestions for way forward. As at April 2019, 178 registrants reported 416 incidents; with 165 approved-Report-a-HotSpot and 92 approved-Interference-through-Media reports, and one approved-Tobacco-Industry-contacted-me report. CONCLUSION: A mobile application coupled with a community network constitutes an effective strategy to engage public in monitoring TIIA.