Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan
Objective Digital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve access and quality of care in low-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, usability and aesthetics of a DHI by frontline workers in peri-urban community settings in Karachi, Pakistan....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221129076 |
| _version_ | 1811205558700605440 |
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| author | Kaniz Amna Haider Omar Gulam Rehan Adamjee Benazir Balouch Zahra Hoodbhoy |
| author_facet | Kaniz Amna Haider Omar Gulam Rehan Adamjee Benazir Balouch Zahra Hoodbhoy |
| author_sort | Kaniz Amna Haider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Digital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve access and quality of care in low-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, usability and aesthetics of a DHI by frontline workers in peri-urban community settings in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods A mixed-methods study was carried out in peri-urban field sites in Karachi, Pakistan, where maternal and childcare services are provided through front-line care providers using a DHI. These workers include community health workers, midwives, and physicians who were using the DHI for at least six months. For quantitative data, a questionnaire regarding the module design and interface, technical difficulty, and appropriate utilisation was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. For qualitative data, focus group discussions (FGDs) based on experiences regarding operability, design, its effect on work efficiency and the provision of beneficial health services were conducted. Results There were 93 respondents for the quantitative questionnaire who reported high satisfaction (>85%) with the DHI in many themes including content quality, aesthetics and ease of use. Participants were least satisfied with service quality (45% satisfaction only) due to issues related to data sync and network connections in these areas. During the FGDs, the workers stated that the DHI helped them with accessing previous data and providing quality health care services to the community. Conclusion Although frontline workers reported a few technical difficulties while using the DHI, the majority reported that it was acceptable, had user-friendly features and was beneficial in their work processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:34:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74a93976c793424a9649fa49efb8dee5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:34:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-74a93976c793424a9649fa49efb8dee52022-12-22T03:49:28ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762022-10-01810.1177/20552076221129076Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, PakistanKaniz Amna HaiderOmar GulamRehan AdamjeeBenazir BalouchZahra HoodbhoyObjective Digital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve access and quality of care in low-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, usability and aesthetics of a DHI by frontline workers in peri-urban community settings in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods A mixed-methods study was carried out in peri-urban field sites in Karachi, Pakistan, where maternal and childcare services are provided through front-line care providers using a DHI. These workers include community health workers, midwives, and physicians who were using the DHI for at least six months. For quantitative data, a questionnaire regarding the module design and interface, technical difficulty, and appropriate utilisation was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. For qualitative data, focus group discussions (FGDs) based on experiences regarding operability, design, its effect on work efficiency and the provision of beneficial health services were conducted. Results There were 93 respondents for the quantitative questionnaire who reported high satisfaction (>85%) with the DHI in many themes including content quality, aesthetics and ease of use. Participants were least satisfied with service quality (45% satisfaction only) due to issues related to data sync and network connections in these areas. During the FGDs, the workers stated that the DHI helped them with accessing previous data and providing quality health care services to the community. Conclusion Although frontline workers reported a few technical difficulties while using the DHI, the majority reported that it was acceptable, had user-friendly features and was beneficial in their work processes.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221129076 |
| spellingShingle | Kaniz Amna Haider Omar Gulam Rehan Adamjee Benazir Balouch Zahra Hoodbhoy Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan Digital Health |
| title | Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_full | Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_short | Health workers’ experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_sort | health workers experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri urban communities in karachi pakistan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221129076 |
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