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Combating non-communicable diseases: Potentials and challenges for community health workers in a digital age, a narrative review of the literature

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dc.contributor.author Mishra, Shiva Raj
dc.contributor.author Lygidakis, Charilaos
dc.contributor.author Neupane, Dinesh
dc.contributor.author Gyawali, Bishal
dc.contributor.author Uwizihiwe, Jean Paul
dc.contributor.author Virani, Salim S.
dc.contributor.author Kallestrup, Per
dc.contributor.author Miranda, J. Jaime
dc.date.accessioned 2019-12-06T21:04:46Z
dc.date.available 2019-12-06T21:04:46Z
dc.date.issued 2019
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12866/7613
dc.description.abstract The use of community health workers (CHWs) has been explored as a viable option to provide home health education, counselling and basic health care, notwithstanding their challenges in training and retention. In this manuscript, we review the evidence and discuss how the digitalization affects the CHWs programmes for tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a review of literature covering two databases: PubMED and Embase. A total of 97 articles were abstracted for full text review of which 26 are included in the analysis. Existing theories were used to construct a conceptual framework for understanding how digitalization affects the prospects of CHW programmes for NCDs. The results are divided into two themes: (1) the benefits of digitalization and (2) the challenges to the prospects of digitalization. We also conducted supplemental search in non-peer reviewed literature to identify and map the digital platforms currently in use in CHW programmes. We identified three benefits and three challenges of digitalization. Firstly, it will help improve the access and quality of services, notwithstanding its higher establishment and maintenance costs. Secondly, it will add efficiency in training and personnel management. Thirdly, it will leverage the use of data generated across grass-roots platforms to further research and evaluation. The challenges posed are related to funding, health literacy of CHWs and systemic challenges related to motivating CHWs. Several dozens of digital platforms were mapped, including mobile-based networking devices (used for behavioural change communication), Web-applications (used for contact tracking, reminder system, adherence tracing, data collection and decision support), videoconference (used for decision support) and mobile applications (used for reminder system, supervision, patients' management, hearing screening and tele-consultation). The digitalization efforts of CHW programmes are afflicted by many challenges, yet the rapid technological penetration and acceptability coupled with the gradual fall in costs constitute encouraging signals for the LMICs. Both CHWs interventions and digital technologies are not inexpensive, but they may provide better value for the money when applied at the right place and time. en_US
dc.language.iso eng
dc.publisher Oxford University Press
dc.relation.ispartofseries Health Policy and Planning
dc.rights info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.rights.uri https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es
dc.subject Community health programmes en_US
dc.subject Community health workers en_US
dc.subject Community Health Workers en_US
dc.subject Developing Countries en_US
dc.subject developing country en_US
dc.subject economics en_US
dc.subject education en_US
dc.subject female en_US
dc.subject Female en_US
dc.subject health auxiliary en_US
dc.subject health literacy en_US
dc.subject Health Literacy en_US
dc.subject human en_US
dc.subject Humans en_US
dc.subject Internet en_US
dc.subject Low-income countries en_US
dc.subject male en_US
dc.subject Male en_US
dc.subject mobile application en_US
dc.subject Mobile Applications en_US
dc.subject motivation en_US
dc.subject Motivation en_US
dc.subject non communicable disease en_US
dc.subject Non-communicable diseases en_US
dc.subject Noncommunicable Diseases en_US
dc.subject organization and management en_US
dc.subject procedures en_US
dc.subject telemedicine en_US
dc.subject Telemedicine en_US
dc.title Combating non-communicable diseases: Potentials and challenges for community health workers in a digital age, a narrative review of the literature en_US
dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.identifier.doi https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czy099
dc.subject.ocde https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#3.03.02
dc.relation.issn 1460-2237


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