Use of a mHealth Approach for the Training of Health-care Providers on Nutrition Counseling in a Malnutrition Clinic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile phones as job aides is one of the most innovative mHealth applications for community health professionals. However, few studies indicated an influence of mHealth on clinical outcomes in low-income countries. AIM: Therefore, the researchers conducted the present study to assess the impact of providing updated training packages using mobile technology to service providers on the knowledge of children’s caregivers and the quality of performance of service providers. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre-posttest of separate samples was conducted in a malnutrition clinic. The total sample size was 400 cases (200 caregivers as a pre-intervention group [pre-IG] and 200 caregivers as a post-intervention group [post-IG]), with inclusion criteria of having their children 6–24 months old. The study interventions composed of five activities: Orientation sessions on nutrition counseling for physicians and nurses, a software (e-health) program loaded in e-tablet to be used during nutrition counseling by physicians, a booklet on proper infant and child feeding, conducting on-the-job training for the nurses, and establishing counseling cycle in the clinic. RESULTS: After the study intervention, the total knowledge score for all items of children’s nutrition increased from 39% among pre-IG to be 80% among post-IG. The majority (more than 90%) of post-IG received four services packages. CONCLUSION: Participation of service providers in five articulating interventions for nutrition counseling contributes to improving the knowledge of children’s caregivers. Practice Implications: Using mobile technology improved the quality of nutrition care services delivered in the malnutrition clinic.