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Evaluation of a Smartphone Decision-Support Tool for Diarrheal Disease Management in a Resource-Limited Setting

Author

Listed:
  • Farhana Haque
  • Robyn L Ball
  • Selina Khatun
  • Mujaddeed Ahmed
  • Saraswati Kache
  • Mohammod Jobayer Chisti
  • Shafiqul Alam Sarker
  • Stace D Maples
  • Dane Pieri
  • Teja Vardhan Korrapati
  • Clea Sarnquist
  • Nancy Federspiel
  • Muhammad Waliur Rahman
  • Jason R Andrews
  • Mahmudur Rahman
  • Eric Jorge Nelson

Abstract

The emergence of mobile technology offers new opportunities to improve clinical guideline adherence in resource-limited settings. We conducted a clinical pilot study in rural Bangladesh to evaluate the impact of a smartphone adaptation of the World Health Organization (WHO) diarrheal disease management guidelines, including a modality for age-based weight estimation. Software development was guided by end-user input and evaluated in a resource-limited district and sub-district hospital during the fall 2015 cholera season; both hospitals lacked scales which necessitated weight estimation. The study consisted of a 6 week pre-intervention and 6 week intervention period with a 10-day post-discharge follow-up. Standard of care was maintained throughout the study with the exception that admitting clinicians used the tool during the intervention. Inclusion criteria were patients two months of age and older with uncomplicated diarrheal disease. The primary outcome was adherence to guidelines for prescriptions of intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and zinc. A total of 841 patients were enrolled (325 pre-intervention; 516 intervention). During the intervention, the proportion of prescriptions for IV fluids decreased at the district and sub-district hospitals (both p

Suggested Citation

  • Farhana Haque & Robyn L Ball & Selina Khatun & Mujaddeed Ahmed & Saraswati Kache & Mohammod Jobayer Chisti & Shafiqul Alam Sarker & Stace D Maples & Dane Pieri & Teja Vardhan Korrapati & Clea Sarnquis, 2017. "Evaluation of a Smartphone Decision-Support Tool for Diarrheal Disease Management in a Resource-Limited Setting," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pntd00:0005290
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005290
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