Routine Medical Check-Up and the Indifference of Potential Patients:  Wearable Technology Advocacy

Chiazor Anthonia Chiaghana; Gloria Nneka Ono; Ngozi U. Megwas

Chiazor Anthonia Chiaghana
Gloria Nneka Ono
Ngozi U. Megwas

Keywords: Routine medical check-up, Wearable technologies, Health condition

Abstract

This work is within the ambit of health informatics. It is a position paper centered on justifying the need for wearable technologies advocacy in order to induce the culture of well being awareness among potential Nigerian patients. Wearable technologies make it possible to monitor human physical activities, physiological and biochemical parameters, on a daily basis. Wearable technologies come in the form of devices attached to shoes, eyeglasses, earrings, clothing, gloves, watches, skin attachable devices, apps on smart-phones, sensors which could be embedded on car seats, chairs and mattresses. Oftentimes it may seem that we are healthy and there is no need for medicals, this may engender an indifferent attitude to routine medical checks and avoidable health conditions. Routine medical checks serve as early warning. This can help to advance longevity among the populace. A higher percentage of citizens in advanced societies appear to prioritize routine medical checks and this may be one factor which accounts for their higher longevity. We used secondary data by way of literature reviews to establish the situation in Nigeria with regards to routine medical checks among potential patients. These reviews showed that there are a lot of factors inhibiting the practice of periodic medicals among Nigerians across different age brackets. Chief among these factors was indifference. We also noted that Nigerians are lovers of new technologies, among these wearable technologies. We therefore suggested that there should be wearable technologies advocacy by medical NGOs and government to leverage technology to induce the culture of continuous health monitoring among the populace.

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