Table 1.

Operational definition of the C-M-O model of hypotheses adapted in this review

C-M-O	Operational definition
Context	This is defined as the prevailing conditions and circumstances within which patients and/or healthcare providers behave or decide to use mobile phone-based health interventions for the treatment and care of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. For example: - Patient/provider predisposing characteristics (age, gender, etc.) - Patient/provider needs - Patient/provider enabling resources
Mechanism	The factors or active ”ingredients” of a mobile phone-based health intervention which directly/indirectly influence both intended and unintended health outcomes and/or outputs of the treatment and care of non-communicable diseases in a well-defined context in sub-Saharan Africa. For example: - How easy to use the patients and healthcare providers find the mobile technology involved in the intervention - How useful patients and healthcare providers perceive the mHealth intervention to be over alternative programs and forms of accessing healthcare
Outcome	This constitutes the sustained use of mHealth interventions and — in turn — better patient access to care