Decreasing workload among community health workers using interactive, structured, rich-media guidelines on smartphones

Iyengar, M. Sriram; Flórez-Arango, José F.

doi:10.3233/thc-130713

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…These tools often are designed to help CHWs collect health data, receive reminders in the field, facilitate community member education, improve communication [ 12 ], and facilitate emergency referrals [ 11 ]. A small but growing body of research has shown that m-health tools provide value to CHWs and patient care [ 11 , 13 – 15 ]. However, few efforts have been made to incorporate such tools into standard practice [ 11 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives and experiences of community health workers in Brazilian primary care centers using m-health tools in home visits with community members

et al. 2017

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BackgroundMobile health (m-health) tools are a promising strategy to facilitate the work of community health workers (CHWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite their potential value, little is known about CHWs’ experiences working with m-health tools in their outreach activities with community members.MethodsTo understand the benefits of and barriers to using m-health tools for CHWs, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 57 CHWs employed in six primary care centers in São Paulo, Brazil. All CHWs had experience using a cell phone application called Geohealth for collecting health and demographic data of community members. We assessed their experiences using Geohealth and recommendations for improvements.ResultsCHWs described key benefits of using Geohealth as helping them save time with bureaucratic paperwork, organizing the data that they needed to collect, and by replacing sheaves of paper, reducing the weight that they carried in the field. However, there were many technical and social barriers to the successful adoption of the m-health tool. Key among these were poor quality hardware, faulty software programs, and negative community member perceptions of the m-health program. The CHWs provided valuable input as to how Geohealth could be improved to fit their needs.Conclusionm-health tools have the potential to facilitate the work of CHWs in LMICs. However, such tools must be designed and implemented thoughtfully. Technical barriers related to both hardware and software must be anticipated and addressed to maximize their efficiency and successful adoption. CHW input on the design of the tool should be sought to maximize its utility and minimize barriers to use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives and experiences of community health workers in Brazilian primary care centers using m-health tools in home visits with community members

et al. 2017

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“…Regarding workload, studies are divergent, sometimes indicating a reduction (Iyengar and Florez-Arango, 2013;Coetzee et al, 2018;Bhardwaj et al, 2020;Adam et al, 2021), sometimes indicating an increase in this workload (Steege et al, 2018;Mengesha et al, 2018;Namatovu and Kanjo, 2019;Shah et al, 2019;Hicks et al, 2021). Although it is a reflection that requires further analysis, it points to a historical crossroads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, in the management of this work, there is an increase or improvement in supervision and collaboration between community health workers and other healthcare professionals within the healthcare team (Neupane et al, 2014;Thondoo et al, 2015;Braun et al, 2016;Pimmer et al, 2017;Steege et al, 2018;Laktabai et al, 2018;Ilozumba et al, 2018;Arnaert et al, 2019;Namatovu and Kanjo, 2019;Shah et al, 2019); There is also an increase in the organization, accuracy, and agility of the collected information (Palazuelos et al, 2013;Iyengar and Florez-Arango, 2013;Neupane et al, 2014;Surka et al, 2014;Brown and Mickelson, 2016;Schoen et al, 2017;Pimmer et al, 2017;Schaeffer et al, 2019;Hackett et al, 2019;Venkataraghavan et al, 2021); There is a decrease in travel costs to healthcare centers because CHW are now able to download reports from the territory directly in their homes using the internet (Thondoo et al, 2015); there is a time-saving aspect as well, as unnecessary inperson home visits are avoided, and community health workers can utilize applications or even phone calls instead (Zaidi et al, 2020;Venkataraghavan et al, 2021); reduction in the workload (Iyengar and Florez-Arango, 2013;Bhardwaj et al, 2020;Adam et al, 2021); increase in job satisfaction as well (Iyengar and Florez-Arango, 2013;Braun et al, 2016) (Table 3).…”

Section: Benefits and Challenges Of Using Digital Technologies In The...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of digital technologies in the practices of community health workers: an international scoping review

Santos,

Silva,

Santos

et al. 2023

Trab. educ. saúde

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This article aims to map the literature on the applications and perceptions regarding the use of digital technologies in the practices of community health workers. This is a scoping review conducted on PubMed, Bireme, SciELO, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus. A total of 63 articles reporting the use of digital technologies by these workers in 24 countries were included. As a result, it was identified that support for maternal and child health is the most prevalent condition in these practices. The identified benefits involve increased access, improved work management, qualification, diversification, expanded training, and increased legitimacy of the profession. The challenges are reflected in limitations regarding community engagement, continuity of care, internet access, electricity, and digital literacy. In conclusion, it supports analyses regarding the irreversibility of the use of information and communication technologies in the world of work, emphasizing the need for their rational use while ensuring comprehensive, universal, and equitable access.

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“…For some authors [ 26 ], this result is justified by the low physical demand required for the handling of small mobile devices, which are very popular nowadays. The result is justified by both the familiarity of these individuals with access to the Internet, and the use of their own mobile devices in their academic and personal daily life, which would facilitate interaction with them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile Virtual Learning Object for the Assessment of Acute Pain as a Learning Tool to Assess Acute Pain in Nursing: An Analysis of the Mental Workload

Alvarez¹,

Sasso²,

Iyengar³

2015

JMIR Medical Education

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BackgroundThe inclusion of new technologies in education has motivated the development of studies on mental workload. These technologies are now being used in the teaching and learning process. The analysis enables identification of factors intervening in this workload as well as planning of overload prevention for educational activities using these technologies.ObjectiveTo analyze the mental workload of an educational intervention with the Mobile Virtual Learning Object for the Assessment of Acute Pain in adults and newborns, according to the NASA Task Load Index criteria.MethodsA methodological study with data collected from 5 nurses and 75 students, from November of 2013 to February of 2014.ResultsThe highest students’ and specialists’ means were in the dimensions of “Mental demand” (57.20 ± 22.27; 51 ± 29.45) and “Performance” (58.47 ± 24.19; 73 ± 28.85). The specialists’ mental workload index was higher (50.20 ± 7.28) when compared with students’ (47.87 ± 16.85) on a scale from 0 to 100 (P=.557).ConclusionsThe instrument allowed for the assessment of mental workload after an online educational intervention with a mobile learning virtual object. An excessive overload was not identified among participants. Assessing mental workload from the use of educational technologies at the end of a task is a key to their applicability, with the aim of providing a more effective, stimulating, and long-lasting experience of the learning process.

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Decreasing workload among community health workers using interactive, structured, rich-media guidelines on smartphones

Cited by 17 publications

References 19 publications

Perspectives and experiences of community health workers in Brazilian primary care centers using m-health tools in home visits with community members

Perspectives and experiences of community health workers in Brazilian primary care centers using m-health tools in home visits with community members

The use of digital technologies in the practices of community health workers: an international scoping review

Mobile Virtual Learning Object for the Assessment of Acute Pain as a Learning Tool to Assess Acute Pain in Nursing: An Analysis of the Mental Workload

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