“We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Background: It is not clear whether village health teams (VHTs) can be empowered to participate in interventions to prevent and control hypertension and diabetes in older adults in Uganda. We conducted this study in rural Uganda to establish if VHTs could be effectively trained to use a smart phone...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2021-12-01
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| Series: | AAS Open Research |
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| Online Access: | https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-25/v2 |
| _version_ | 1827840821117845504 |
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| author | Janet Seeley Joseph Okello Mugisha |
| author_facet | Janet Seeley Joseph Okello Mugisha |
| author_sort | Janet Seeley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: It is not clear whether village health teams (VHTs) can be empowered to participate in interventions to prevent and control hypertension and diabetes in older adults in Uganda. We conducted this study in rural Uganda to establish if VHTs could be effectively trained to use a smart phone guided intervention to link older people with hypertension and diabetes to care. We also explored the experiences of VHTs in managing older adults with health problems, their knowledge of hypertension and diabetes and their understanding of referral systems. We also explored their experiences with smartphones. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with and trained 20 VHTs randomly selected from Bukulula sub-county in Kalungu district from October 2017-December 2018. We used interview guides to explore topics relevant to our study objectives. VHTs were trained to measure blood sugar and blood pressure using digital machines. VHTs were trained on identifying symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Data from IDIs were analysed using thematic content analysis. Competence tests were used to evaluate the training. Results: Most of the VHTs were female (75%). All VHTs had some knowledge on hypertension and diabetes and other chronic diseases. They did not have any experience in treating older adults since they had been trained to deal mainly with children. Half of the VHTs owned smartphones. All were willing to participate in an intervention using a smartphone to link older adults with hypertension and diabetes mellitus to care. By the end of the training, all but three participants could comprehend the symptoms of diabetes and measure blood sugar and blood pressure. Conclusion: Village health teams in the study setting need training in managing the health needs of older adults before engaging with an intervention using smartphones to link older adults with diabetes mellitus and hypertension to care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:40:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8ccdbc4905e4262a1b0399fd6c74625 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-9321 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:40:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AAS Open Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8ccdbc4905e4262a1b0399fd6c746252023-09-02T21:21:11ZengF1000 Research LtdAAS Open Research2515-93212021-12-01314418“We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Janet Seeley0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0583-5272Joseph Okello Mugisha1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0199-1518Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Uganda Research Unit, P.O.Box 49, Entebbe, UgandaMedical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Uganda Research Unit, P.O.Box 49, Entebbe, UgandaBackground: It is not clear whether village health teams (VHTs) can be empowered to participate in interventions to prevent and control hypertension and diabetes in older adults in Uganda. We conducted this study in rural Uganda to establish if VHTs could be effectively trained to use a smart phone guided intervention to link older people with hypertension and diabetes to care. We also explored the experiences of VHTs in managing older adults with health problems, their knowledge of hypertension and diabetes and their understanding of referral systems. We also explored their experiences with smartphones. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with and trained 20 VHTs randomly selected from Bukulula sub-county in Kalungu district from October 2017-December 2018. We used interview guides to explore topics relevant to our study objectives. VHTs were trained to measure blood sugar and blood pressure using digital machines. VHTs were trained on identifying symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Data from IDIs were analysed using thematic content analysis. Competence tests were used to evaluate the training. Results: Most of the VHTs were female (75%). All VHTs had some knowledge on hypertension and diabetes and other chronic diseases. They did not have any experience in treating older adults since they had been trained to deal mainly with children. Half of the VHTs owned smartphones. All were willing to participate in an intervention using a smartphone to link older adults with hypertension and diabetes mellitus to care. By the end of the training, all but three participants could comprehend the symptoms of diabetes and measure blood sugar and blood pressure. Conclusion: Village health teams in the study setting need training in managing the health needs of older adults before engaging with an intervention using smartphones to link older adults with diabetes mellitus and hypertension to care.https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-25/v2ageing non-communicable diseases community health workers Ugandaeng |
| spellingShingle | Janet Seeley Joseph Okello Mugisha “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] AAS Open Research ageing non-communicable diseases community health workers Uganda eng |
| title | “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | we shall have gone to a higher standard training village heath teams vhts to use a smartphone guided intervention to link older ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| topic | ageing non-communicable diseases community health workers Uganda eng |
| url | https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-25/v2 |
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