Abstract
This study examines the factors impacting Tanzanian drug dispensaries' perceptions of the potential benefits of using a mobile health (mHealth) reporting system. Since 2003, the Government of Tanzania has implemented its Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlet (ADDO) programme in support of dispensaries in under-served rural and peri-urban areas. A core element of this ADDO programme is the dispensary use of an mHealth application for reporting on the drugs they are dispensing and the medical conditions that are being treated. This study canvassed the views of ADDO programme dispensaries using the mHealth reporting system in the Iringa, Mbeya, and Njombe Regions, through a survey questionnaire completed by 318 dispensaries and focus group discussions with 38 dispensary personnel. The data revealed that four factors-system quality, information quality, service quality, and price value-are all having a statistically significant impact on dispensaries' perceptions of the potential benefits of using the mHealth system.
Highlights
The use of mobile phone technology has rapidly expanded in developing countries due to decreases in the cost of connectivity and increases in network coverage (Chib et al, 2014)
System quality In line with the survey finding that system quality had a significant positive impact on dispensaries’ perceptions of the potential benefits of using the mobile health (mHealth) reporting system, there was consensus among the focus group participants that the mHealth system was more convenient to use than the system of filling in paper documents to send to the Ministry
Analysis and conclusions Based on the results of this study, we propose, in Figure 2, a four-factor model for understanding and addressing the factors currently impacting dispensaries’perceptions of the potential benefits of using the mHealth reporting system in Tanzania
Summary
The use of mobile phone technology has rapidly expanded in developing countries due to decreases in the cost of connectivity and increases in network coverage (Chib et al, 2014). The data could not be reported to the regulators and the government authorities at the district, regional, and national Ministry level (Dillip et al, 2017) It was, difficult for the Ministry to assess ADDO dispensaries’ performance and compliance with existing regulations. Difficult for the Ministry to assess ADDO dispensaries’ performance and compliance with existing regulations To address this problem, the mHealth system was implemented and integrated into the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) platform to track and monitor data from dispensaries from various regions in Tanzania. The mHealth system was implemented and integrated into the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) platform to track and monitor data from dispensaries from various regions in Tanzania Using this system, data on the movement of drugs that are being dispensed can be monitored, since dispensaries can send reports using their mobile devices. The use factors explored by the research were drawn from the updated D&M IS success model (DeLone & McLean, 2003), and the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) (Venkatesh et al, 2003)
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