Health IT

There are numerous solutions for data collection using mobile phones including ODK [1] , Nokia Data Gathering(NDG) [2] and RapidSMS [3].
What we are working towards now are a set of standards and protocols so that data collected on an android device can be sent to an NDG server for example and an ODK can understand data from a E73 phone.
NDG was created by INdT [4] in response to a request from the Government of Amazonas for assistance with monitoring Dengue and since the system has been implemented we have seen a fall of 93% in infection rates here in the Amazon (it seems incredible I know but look at this report from Lonely Planet [5]).
I am currently responsible for the NDG project at the Nokia Research Institute and if you would like to know more or even trial our solution please contact me. Together we can make a difference!

[1] http://code.google.com/p/opendatakit/
[2] http://www.nokia.com/corporate-responsibility/society/nokia-data-gathering/en...
[3] http://www.rapidsms.org/
[4] http://www.indt.org.br/en.html
[5] http://www.socialinnovationawards.com/contestideaiframe?ideaid=MzQ4

Hi Maria,

I'm working with AMPATH on a few mHealth projects and also helped design and begin implementing a mobile phone based data system for nearly half the districts in Malawi. My approach with these projects is to start with a socio economic analysis. I'm not talking about hiring a professional anthropologist (though that would probably be best), just asking some simple questions: Is anyone using phones in the communities where you work? If so, what kinds of phones? What physical infrastructure (e.g. off grid phone charging stations?) and knowledge resources (e.g. do they get advice about their phone from the people they buy airtime from in the community?) do they leverage so that they can use the phones?

As a general rule of thumb, if a technology is proliferating in the private sector in the communities where you work, you have a better chance of being able to implement it effectively for health services. I don't mean the specific group you work with (e.g. sex workers), but all of the people who live in immediate proximity to them - their village. I haven't worked in India, but I'd wager that people are ...

Hi Maria,

I'm working with AMPATH on a few mHealth projects and also helped design and begin implementing a mobile phone based data system for nearly half the districts in Malawi. My approach with these projects is to start with a socio economic analysis. I'm not talking about hiring a professional anthropologist (though that would probably be best), just asking some simple questions: Is anyone using phones in the communities where you work? If so, what kinds of phones? What physical infrastructure (e.g. off grid phone charging stations?) and knowledge resources (e.g. do they get advice about their phone from the people they buy airtime from in the community?) do they leverage so that they can use the phones?

As a general rule of thumb, if a technology is proliferating in the private sector in the communities where you work, you have a better chance of being able to implement it effectively for health services. I don't mean the specific group you work with (e.g. sex workers), but all of the people who live in immediate proximity to them - their village. I haven't worked in India, but I'd wager that people are using voice and SMS services on $15-25 dollar hand sets and not much else. Also look at what technology is already being used at the health facilities in question. Do you have network administrators managing servers and a local intranet, or do you have one or two people who use laptops/desktops for microsoft word and excell and email?

After you have a basic idea of what's feasible, then you can say what software falls within our reach in terms of accessing equipment and skills, and then judge whether those feasible tools provide a good value proposition. For example, you might say we know we can handle a laptop with a modem at the hospital, and our peer counselors can handle X kind of phones which are familiar in their community. What kinds of data could we communicate using these tools, how much would it cost and save? Frequently certain use cases will become very obvious (e.g. we would love to be able to request peer counselors to initiate follow up with patient x without having to ride a motorcycle to the community and tell them in person!). If the use case does not become obviously tantalizing, then your location/team probably aren't ready for mobile yet.

Regarding specific technologies: ODK is beautiful once up and running, but requires handsets (android) and software developer skills that are far out of reach in most places I've worked. RapidSMS works with ultra low cost handsets but does not do forms based data collection well, and requires relatively professional IT expertise to implement on the server side. I've heard good things about Nokia Data Gathering for forms based data collection but haven't used it personally because it's not open source (I've heard rumors it may be open source someday - that would be awesome). Episurveyor is definitely worth looking into, but keep in mind that it requires GPRS (internet over the mobile phone network), which may not be available in your area. I've used FrontlineSMS extensively in my work, for end users it is the simplest tool out there and is feasible for the broadest number of areas, but it may or may not facilitate a use case that would be worthwhile for you.

cheers
Isaac