Perceptions of Tanzanian Health Care Workers Towards the Use of Mobile Phone Clinical Applications

Abstract

The use of mobile phones in health care offers the promise of improved quality of care in developing countries. D-Tree International has developed mobile phone applications utilizing clinical protocols that are currently being used by health workers in Tanzania. There is limited literature showing medical professionals’ perceptions of barriers to mobile phone based technology in a Tanzanian context. After obtaining appropriate Institutional Review Board approval, from July- August, 2012 I consented and interviewed a total of 42 health care workers (nurses, community health workers, and their supervisors) selected via purposive sampling. These interviews took place in the Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Zanzibar Regions of Tanzania and resulted in over 26 hours of recorded data. These interviews explored strategies to address how this technology can be sustainably implemented in health care settings. Having conducted and reviewed these interviews, I have documented my impressions of health care worker perceptions. I used these perceptions to comment broadly on D-tree’s operations and, where applicable, suggest future directions for D-Tree International. After completion of interviews, I submitted my impressions to D-Tree International staff who discussed the findings.