Mobile support for managing high blood pressure in Ghana
Official title: AHOMKA: A Culturally-adapted mHealth Platform for Management of Hypertension in an Urban and Rural Region of Ghana
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11171489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A phone-based program that uses an app and text messages to help people in Ghana manage their high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $197,656 |
| NIH project number | 5R33EB033166-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diagnosed hypertension living in the participating urban or rural regions of Ghana who have access to a mobile phone are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without reliable access to a mobile phone, those without hypertension, or patients needing immediate hospital-level care are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
What this research studies
This project adapts a phone app and text-message system to fit local languages and customs so I can better manage my high blood pressure. The team will work with patients, health workers, and clinics in both city and rural areas to make sure the messages and app features are useful and easy to use. They will link the app to local providers so I can get reminders, report readings, and receive guidance between visits. The approach combines patient-to-provider messaging, medication and appointment reminders, and tailored support to help me stay on treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help people lower and keep their blood pressure under control by improving medication use, follow-up, and communication with providers.
How similar studies have gone: Similar mobile health programs and the underlying Empower Health system have shown promise for improving blood pressure control elsewhere, but strong evidence from Ghana and comparable sub-Saharan settings is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koomson, Valencia Joyner — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Koomson, Valencia Joyner
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.