MHealth Technology Translation in a Limited Resources Community-Process, Challenges, and Lessons Learned From a Limited Resources Community of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Jintana Chaiwan,Ekkarat Boonchieng,Waraporn Boonchieng,Manash Shrestha,Bijaya Shrestha,Adam J.O. Dede

doi:10.1109/jtehm.2021.3055069

Abstract

This report aims to provide practical advice about the implementation of a public health monitoring system using both geographic information system technology and mobile health, a term used for healthcare delivery via mobile devices. application amongst household residents and community stakeholders in the limited resource community. A public health monitoring system was implemented in a semi-rural district in Thailand. The challenges encountered during implementation were documented qualitatively in a series of monthly focus group discussions, several community hearings, and many targeted interviews. In addition, lessons learned from the expansion of the program to 75 other districts throughout Thailand were also considered. All challenges proved solvable yielding several key pieces of advice for future project implementation teams. Specifically, communication between team members, anticipating technological challenges, and involvement of community members are critical. The problems encountered in our project were mainly related to the capabilities of the data collectors and technical issues of mobile devices, internet coverage, and the GIS application itself. During the implementation phase, progressive changes needed to be made to the system promptly, in parallel with community team building in order to get the highest public health impact.

Highlights

AND CLINICAL NEEDGeographic information systems (GIS) are computer systems designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial and geographical data [1]
Combining GIS with mobile health initiatives can lead to powerful benefits. mHealth is any use of mobile phones as a platform for delivery of health care, health monitoring, or health data collection
The data were stored in a private cloud server, OpenNode GCP, which operates on CentOS version 6.5 and can be made available at http://cmhealthinformatics.com/

Summary

Introduction

AND CLINICAL NEEDGeographic information systems (GIS) are computer systems designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial and geographical data [1]. GIS technology has great potential to aid public health efforts and has been applied to public health in at least three ways. GIS technology can increase understanding of how and where health care services are accessed, leading to more targeted plans to address coverage and access issues [2], [3]. GIS can aid the development of community profiles, giving healthcare workers knowledge of demographic, economic, healthcare, and lifestyle characteristics of the population as well as information about exposure to potential environmental hazards [2], [6]–[8]. Combining GIS with mobile health (mHealth) initiatives can lead to powerful benefits. MHealth is any use of mobile phones as a platform for delivery of health care, health monitoring, or health data collection.

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Conclusion