1
|
Shrivastava R, Singh A, Khan A, Choubey S, Haney JR, Karyotaki E, Tugnawat D, Bhan A, Naslund JA. Stress Alleviation Methods for community-Based Health ActiVists (SAMBHAV): Development of a digital program for stress reduction for community health workers in rural India. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 4:100230. [PMID: 38188869 PMCID: PMC10769151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Community health workers (CHWs) face high levels of stress (both professional and personal) and risk of burnout, highlighting the need for efforts to promote their mental health and well-being. This study seeks to develop a digital stress reduction program for CHWs in rural India. Methods A stepwise design process was employed to adapt and digitize the evidence-based World Health Organization's Self-Help Plus (SH+) intervention for addressing psychological distress among CHWs in Madhya Pradesh, India. This involved participatory design workshops with CHWs to ensure that the digital stress reduction intervention would be relevant for their needs and the local culture and context. Small groups of CHWs reviewed the adapted program content, allowing the research team to make refinements such as simplifying language, tailoring content to the local setting, and ensuring that program materials are both interesting and relevant. Simultaneously, the research team digitized the content, leveraging a combination of video and graphical content, and uploaded it to the Sangath Learning Management System, a digital platform accessible on a smartphone app. Results In total, 18 CHWs contributed to the adaptation of the SH+ content and digital intervention development. Participants commented on finding some terms difficult to follow and recommended simplifying the language and providing detailed explanations. Participants offered positive feedback on the adapted content, expressing that they found the examples covered in the material both relatable and relevant to their own personal experiences at home and in the workplace. By combining participants' insights and comments with feedback from content experts, it was possible to finalize a digital Hindi version of the SH+ intervention for CHWs in rural India. Conclusions This study is timely given the continued detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and offers a promising and potentially scalable digital program to alleviate psychological distress among frontline health workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - John A. Naslund
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saha S, Quazi ZS. Does Digitally Enabling Frontline Health Workers Improve Coverage and Quality of Maternal and Child Health Services? Findings From a Mixed Methods Evaluation of TECHO+ in Gujarat. Front Public Health 2022; 10:856561. [PMID: 35958841 PMCID: PMC9363132 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.856561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Technology Enabled Community Health Operations (TeCHO+) is a mobile and web-based application (app) for frontline health workers. It includes features such as real-time data entry, automated generation of the work plan, and a decision support system generating alerts for high-risk cases. Since 2019, the programme is implemented across all 33 districts of Gujarat, catering to a population of over 60 million. This study aims to compare changes in the coverage, quality of data reporting maternal and child health services, and time spent in the documentation before and after the introduction of the TeCHO+ app. Methods To address the study aim, a mixed-method design with a realist evaluation approach was adopted. The survey was conducted with randomly selected beneficiaries from 32 sub-centers across two districts of Gujarat State in India. We surveyed 215 postpartum women and mothers of 102 children at baseline (pre) and 246 postpartum women and mothers of 119 children post 1 year of the TeCHO+ programme intervention in 2020. For qualitative data, total 29 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, 12 Data Entry Operators and 10 Primary Health Center Medical Officers were purposively selected from 32 PHCs and interviewed to understand the pathways leading to the programme outcome. Results Following introduction of TeCHO+, the coverage of full antenatal care (ANC; 75.6% vs. 67.9%, p-value < 0.0001), consumption of at least 180 iron-folic acid tablets (93% vs. 77%, p-value < 0.001), early initiation of breastfeeding (42.7% vs. 24.2%, p-value < 0.001), five home-visits by ANM during the first month after delivery (36.2% vs. 27.9%, p-value = 0.056), HBV0 vaccination (67.2% vs. 35.3%, p-value < 0.0001) and Pentavalent 2 (100% vs. 95.1%, p-value = 0.015) improved. The overall concordance rate for routine maternal health indicators (a measure of data quality) improved from 69.1 to 80.5%, while that for routine child health indicators improved from 86.6 to 92.1%. The programme resulted in 1.7 h saving a day of ANM's productive time and 1.5 h (a day) of data entry operator's time. Conclusions The TeCHO+ programme has improved access to care. It impacted both coverage of maternal and child health services and data reporting quality of various maternal and child high-risk conditions. Considering the programme's success, other disease services might be added to the scope of TeCHO+ software.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Somen Saha
- Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Gandhinagar, India
- *Correspondence: Somen Saha
| | - Zahiruddin Syed Quazi
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Patil SR, Nimmagadda S, Gopalakrishnan L, Avula R, Bajaj S, Diamond-Smith N, Paul A, Fernald L, Menon P, Walker D. Can digitally enabling community health and nutrition workers improve services delivery to pregnant women and mothers of infants? Quasi-experimental evidence from a national-scale nutrition programme in India. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 6:bmjgh-2021-007298. [PMID: 35835476 PMCID: PMC9296874 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background India’s 1.4 million community health and nutrition workers (CHNWs) serve 158 million beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. We assessed the impact of a data capture, decision support, and job-aid mobile app for the CHNWs on two primary outcomes—(1) timeliness of home visits and (2) appropriate counselling specific to the needs of pregnant women and mothers of children <12 months. Methods We used a quasi-experimental pair-matched controlled trial using repeated cross-sectional surveys to evaluate the intervention in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh (MP) separately using an intention-to-treat analysis. The study was powered to detect difference of 5–9 percentage points (pp) with type I error of 0.05 and type II error of 0.20 with endline sample of 6635 mothers of children <12 months and 2398 pregnant women from a panel of 841 villages. Results Among pregnant women and mothers of children <12 months, recall of counselling specific to the trimester of pregnancy or age of the child as per ICDS guidelines was higher in both MP (11.5pp (95% CI 7.0pp to 16.0pp)) and Bihar (8.0pp (95% CI 5.3pp to 10.7pp)). Significant differences were observed in the proportion of mothers of children <12 months receiving adequate number of home visits as per ICDS guidelines (MP 8.3pp (95% CI 4.1pp to 12.5pp), Bihar: 7.9pp (95% CI 4.1pp to 11.6pp)). Coverage of children receiving growth monitoring increased in Bihar (22pp (95% CI 0.18 to 0.25)), but not in MP. No effects were observed on infant and young child feeding practices. Conclusion The at-scale app integrated with ICDS improved provision of services under the purview of CHNWs but not those that depended on systemic factors, and was relatively more effective when baseline levels of services were low. Overall, digitally enabling CHNWs can complement but not substitute efforts for strengthening health systems and addressing structural barriers. Trial registration number ISRCTN83902145.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumeet R Patil
- Center for Causal Research and Evaluations, NEERMAN, Mumbai, India
| | - Sneha Nimmagadda
- Center for Causal Research and Evaluations, NEERMAN, Mumbai, India
- Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Rasmi Avula
- International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Sumati Bajaj
- International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Nadia Diamond-Smith
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Anshuman Paul
- Center for Causal Research and Evaluations, NEERMAN, Mumbai, India
| | - Lia Fernald
- Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Purnima Menon
- International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Dilys Walker
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gupta S, Ramadass S, Kumar R, Salve HR, Yadav K, Kant S. Use of web-based health information portals in primary health care: Experience from a rural Primary Health Centre in Haryana. J Family Med Prim Care 2021; 10:3144-3150. [PMID: 34660460 PMCID: PMC8483133 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2352_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Health care informatics is the scientific field that deals with the data capture, storage, retrieval, and use of biomedical data, information, and knowledge for problem solving and decision-making. The objectives of the study were to describe the web-based portals used at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and to appraise its utilization at the local level. Methods: Various methodologies included observation of portal use, record review, interview of stakeholders using the portals. Results: Health Workers workload increased because of physical record entry and time spent for entry in web-based health information portals. Web-based portals did not have options for utilization of the data generated at the PHC level. The options of feedback and helpline were not universally available. Conclusion: Web-based portals are integral part of health system at primary healthcare level. Adequate utilization of web-based health information portals may lead to efficient provision of health services at the primary health care level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunanda Gupta
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S Ramadass
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Rakesh Kumar
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Harshal R Salve
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Kapil Yadav
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shashi Kant
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nadhamuni S, John O, Kulkarni M, Nanda E, Venkatraman S, Varma D, Balsari S, Gudi N, Samantaray S, Reddy H, Sheel V. Driving digital transformation of comprehensive primary health services at scale in India: an enterprise architecture framework. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2021-005242. [PMID: 34312149 PMCID: PMC8728378 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In its commitment towards Sustainable Development Goals, India envisages comprehensive primary health services as a key pillar in achieving universal health coverage. Embedded in siloed vertical programmes, their lack of interoperability and standardisation limits sustainability and hence their benefits have not been realised yet. We propose an enterprise architecture framework that overcomes these challenges and outline a robust futuristic digital health infrastructure for delivery of efficient and effective comprehensive primary healthcare. Core principles of an enterprise platform architecture covering four platform levers to facilitate seamless service delivery, monitor programmatic performance and facilitate research in the context of primary healthcare are listed. A federated architecture supports the custom needs of states and health programmes through standardisation and decentralisation techniques. Interoperability design principles enable integration between disparate information technology systems to ensure continuum of care across referral pathways. A responsive data architecture meets high volume and quality requirements of data accessibility in compliance with regulatory requirements. Security and privacy by design underscore the importance of building trust through role-based access, strong user authentication mechanisms, robust data management practices and consent. The proposed framework will empower programme managers with a ready reference toolkit for designing, implementing and evaluating primary care platforms for large-scale deployment. In the context of health and wellness centres, building a responsive, resilient and reliable enterprise architecture would be a fundamental path towards strengthening health systems leveraging digital health interventions. An enterprise architecture for primary care is the foundational building block for an efficient national digital health ecosystem. As citizens take ownership of their health, futuristic digital infrastructure at the primary care level will determine the health-seeking behaviour and utilisation trajectory of the nation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Nadhamuni
- Digital LifeCare, Dell Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Oommen John
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Mallari Kulkarni
- Digital LifeCare, Dell Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Eshan Nanda
- Digital LifeCare, Dell Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Devesh Varma
- Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Satchit Balsari
- Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nachiket Gudi
- The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Haritha Reddy
- BeeHyv Software Solutions, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Vikas Sheel
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Muke SS, Tugnawat D, Joshi U, Anand A, Khan A, Shrivastava R, Singh A, Restivo JL, Bhan A, Patel V, Naslund JA. Digital Training for Non-Specialist Health Workers to Deliver a Brief Psychological Treatment for Depression in Primary Care in India: Findings from a Randomized Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E6368. [PMID: 32883018 PMCID: PMC7503742 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Task sharing holds promise for scaling up depression care in countries such as India, yet requires training large numbers of non-specialist health workers. This pilot trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a digital program for training non-specialist health workers to deliver a brief psychological treatment for depression. Methods: Participants were non-specialist health workers recruited from primary care facilities in Sehore, a rural district in Madhya Pradesh, India. A three-arm randomized controlled trial design was used, comparing digital training alone (DGT) to digital training with remote support (DGT+), and conventional face-to-face training. The primary outcome was the feasibility and acceptability of digital training programs. Preliminary effectiveness was explored as changes in competency outcomes, assessed using a self-reported measure covering the specific knowledge and skills required to deliver the brief psychological treatment for depression. Outcomes were collected at pre-training and post-training. Results: Of 42 non-specialist health workers randomized to the training programs, 36 including 10 (72%) in face-to-face, 12 (86%) in DGT, and 14 (100%) in DGT+ arms started the training. Among these participants, 27 (64%) completed the training, with 8 (57%) in face-to-face, 8 (57%) in DGT, and 11 (79%) in DGT+. The addition of remote telephone support appeared to improve completion rates for DGT+ participants. The competency outcome improved across all groups, with no significant between-group differences. However, face-to-face and DGT+ participants showed greater improvement compared to DGT alone. There were numerous technical challenges with the digital training program such as poor connectivity, smartphone app not loading, and difficulty navigating the course content-issues that were further emphasized in follow-up focus group discussions with participants. Feedback and recommendations collected from participants informed further modifications and refinements to the training programs in preparation for a forthcoming large-scale effectiveness trial. Conclusions: This study adds to mounting efforts aimed at leveraging digital technology to increase the availability of evidence-based mental health services in primary care settings in low-resource settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shital S. Muke
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Deepak Tugnawat
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Udita Joshi
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Aditya Anand
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Azaz Khan
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Ritu Shrivastava
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Abhishek Singh
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Juliana L. Restivo
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (J.L.R.); (V.P.)
| | - Anant Bhan
- Sangath, 120 Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462016, India; (S.S.M.); (D.T.); (U.J.); (A.A.); (A.K.); (R.S.); (A.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (J.L.R.); (V.P.)
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - John A. Naslund
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (J.L.R.); (V.P.)
| |
Collapse
|