Innovating, Adapting, Learning, Expanding and Excelling: Using Mobiles to Improve Interpersonal Communication Around the Globe
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The document discusses the use of the OppiaMobile platform to enhance interpersonal communication (IPC) among frontline health workers in low-connectivity settings, aiming to improve health outcomes through tailored education and training. It outlines various implementations of the platform in countries like Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, highlighting successes in training and skill enhancement, particularly around family planning and maternal health. Despite challenges such as maintenance and varying mobile literacy among users, the platform is noted for its cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and positive impact on health service delivery.
Innovating, Adapting, Learning, Expanding and Excelling: Using Mobiles to Improve Interpersonal Communication Around the Globe
- 2. Innovating, Adapting, Learning, Expanding and Excelling: Using Mobiles to Improve Interpersonal Communication Around the Globe Lindsey Leslie, MSPH Program Officer II Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs
- 3. Tailored exchange or sharing of information, thoughts, ideas and feelings between two or more people to address behavioral determinants of health. IPC can be one way or two way. It can also be verbal, non-verbal or both. Interpersonal Communication (IPC):
- 4. Pros: Cons: *Personalized information for client needs *Low fidelity *Leverages personal connections *Room for personal bias *Encourages experience sharing *Dependent on IPC skillset Interpersonal Communication for Health Behavior Change:
- 5. What is OppiaMobile? ● Developed for use by frontline health workers in low-connectivity settings ● Delivers learning content, video and quizzes to Android smartphones ● Performs three key functions: ○ Job aid for Frontline Health Workers ○ Self- Learning Tool ○ Monitoring Tool More information available here: https://digital-campus.org/oppiamobile/developers/
- 6. Open Source Platform Ease of Content Management via Moodle Adaptable To Many Languages Easy Access Via Google Play Works Offline Timely Analytics Why use the OppiaMobile Platform?
- 7. Dynamic Dashboard ●Client profile and data analytics available through a live dashboard ●Records activities in relation to content and helps identify content that is relevant to the community ●Enable program access to (near) real time monitoring data ●Helps guide program strategy and making timely intervention
- 8. How has CCP used OppiaMobile? Nigeria Distance education/training for clinic- based midwives to address issues of provider bias experienced during family planning counseling sessions. India Distance education tool and job aid for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to support household counseling sessions on family planning. Pakistan Distance education tool and job aid for Lady Health Workers to improve interpersonal communication skills and support Maternal Child Health, Nutrition and Family Planning counseling with community members. Nepal Scenario-based distance education tool for facility-based providers designed to address displayed during family planning sessions.
- 9. Nigeria ● APP OVERVIEW: Self-learning tool with 4 modules, EE videos, quizzes, and resources. ● LESSON LEARNED: Feasibility/ acceptability study elicited a positive response from midwives. NURHI is a Gates-funded Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) project that aims to increase demand for family planning (FP) in 4 Nigeria cities Abuja, Ibadan, Ilorin, and Kaduna. App Tour
- 10. India ● APP OVERVIEW: Dual-purpose app with over 40 EE materials, quizzes and resources. ● LESSON LEARNED: Co-creation with user is essential- ASHAs named the app and decided how best to organize the app materials. App Tour Project Ujjwal was a DFID-funded program working to increase uptake of modern family planning in two Indian states: Bihar and Odisha.
- 12. Pakistan ● APP OVERVIEW: Dual purpose app with over 60 media and materials split between two sections: mCounseling and mLearning. ● LESSON LEARNED: Developed a Moodle language pack for Sindhi so that the app could display content in both Sindhi and Urdu. Health Communication Component (HCC) was a USAID-funded project aimed to improve Maternal and Child Health outcomes in Sindh, Pakistan. Paper-based toolkit Snapshot of App’s Homepage
- 13. Nepal ● APP: Self-learning tool with sequenced, scenario- based content (videos, quizzes, reflection, etc) ● HIGHLIGHT: Largest initial user group (~200 users) deployed over 2-3 months across Nepal. All users downloaded app to their own smartphones. Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) Project in Nepal was a USAID-funded project aimed to increase use of modern family planning among young married couples in Nepal. Snapshot of App
- 14. OppiaMobile Works! Nigeria Focus group discussions demonstrated that the midwives recognized themselves in the “bad” example of client counseling. Also found increases in FP knowledge. India A post-only study increased uptake of modern family planning among women exposed to the app. Women counseled by a trained ASHA using the app were 4.5 times more likely to use modern family planning (compared to women counseled by an ASHA under standard counseling methods). Pakistan 99% of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) agreed it was easy to use the app and 100% reported increased productivity. 99% of LHWs thought it increased their overall ability to provide information and counsel clients.
- 15. Final Thoughts on Adapting OppiaMobile Advantages ● Cost-effective ● Quick development timeline ● Able to repurpose content from other areas of the project ● Software updated regularly ● Can be developed and maintained in-house Challenges ● App requires regular maintenance ● Need an Android developer in-house for troubleshooting ● Users mobile literacy varies (may need to provide regular support) ● Not advisable to customize code
- 16. Thank you! Lindsey Leslie, MSPH Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs LindseyLeslie@jhu.edu