The mConsulting Project: Mobile consulting as an option for communities with minimal healthcare access in low-resource settings
Introduction.
Mobile Consulting (Remote Consulting) is when patients consult with healthcare workers about a health issue using some form of digital communication, e.g. mobile phone, tablet. mConsulting has potential to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for communities with minimal access to services in low- and middle-income counties. There are well-known corporate providers in many countries but with the availability of mobile money transfer, individuals and small organisations may also be providing mConsulting. In our study, we are exploring how mConsulting is used and provided and its perceived impact in urban slums and remote rural areas in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.
Our Research
We are working in remote rural areas in Pakistan and Tanzania and five urban slums in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria. Between April 2019 and March 2020, we analysed national policies and identified existing mConsulting services in each country.We held interviews and ran workshops, reaching over 230 community residents, 50 local health workers and 30 local and national decision-makers about their use, experiences and perceptions of mConsulting.
Data were qualitatively analysed for key themes within and across sites. We also analysed secondary data from a household survey undertaken in the five urban study sites by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Improving Health in Slums.
Related work
Co-produced mobile consulting for remote, marginalised communities in Africa (UKRI GCRF Digital Innovation for Development in Africa)
Digital communication in the NHS, UK Improving health outcomes for young people with long-term conditions: The role of digital communication in current and future patient-clinical communication for NHS providers of specialist clinical services (the LYNC Study)
Partners
Our partners are:
- African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Kenya
- Independent University, Bangladesh
- The Aga Khan University, Pakistan
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- St Francis College of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
Project Advisory Groups
Research in each study site has been guided by a Project Advisory Group of local experts, including community leaders, local health workers and managers, mHealth service providers, mobile companies, technical and academic experts, local NGOs and researchers.
Briefing Documents
Policy and Evidence Review in support of NIHR Group Application, November, 2020
Policy Briefs
mConsulting as an option for improving access to heathcare in Nigeria
COVOICES: Bangladesh - Community perspective on health in slums at the time of COVID-19 (July 2020)
Mobile consulting as an option for improving healthcare access in low-resource settings
Mobile Consulting: An Option to enhance Healthcare Access in Pakistan
Resources
Peer-reviewed papers
News and events
The Conversation: Global Perspectives
Mobile technology can improve access to healthcare in Nigeria – if it’s regulated
In the news
UI Research News: mConsulting as an option for improving access to heathcare in Nigeria
Healthcare: Researchers warn against compromise on mobile consulting
Nigeria needs policy to regulate, prevent data compromise in mConsulting - UI experts
How COVID-19 mobile consulting could have long term benefits for communities with limited healthcare
Communities with limited healthcare could receive boon from COVID-19 mobile consulting boom
Funding Acknowledgement
The mConsulting Project is supported by a foundation grant from the Health Systems Research Initiative with funding from the UK Department for International Development, the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (grant no. MR/S012729/1).
.
Impact
COVID-19 response: Remote consulting for healthcare (ReaCH): Training health workers to continue health care delivery digitally in low resource countries
Team members from Warwick's Medical School and Institute of Digital Healthcare, UK King's College London, UK and St Francis College of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania have developed training for health workers to use their own phones to deliver healthcare to patients, thus reducing the need for face-to-face contact. The training is free to use subject to licence.
Contact us
Principal Investigator
Frances Griffiths f.e.griffiths@warwick.ac.uk
Bangladesh
Rita Yusuf ritayusuf@iub.edu.bd
Kenya
Pauline Bakibinga pbakibinga@aphrc.org
Nigeria
Akinyinka Omigbodun omigbodun@gmail.com
Pakistan
Romaina Iqbal romaina.iqbal@aku.edu
Tanzania
Senga Pemba pemba7@gmail.com
Project Coordinator
Bronwyn Harris b.harris.2@warwick.ac.uk