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Table 2 Characteristics of the included articles

From: Mapping evidence of mobile health technologies for disease diagnosis and treatment support by health workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Author and date

Country

Geographical setting (rural/urban/semi-urban)

Study setting

Study design

Target population

Aim of the study

Type of mHealth devices

Nature of mHealth intervention

Purpose of mHealth intervention

Treatment support

Kaunda-Khangamwa et al. [17]

Malawi

Urban

Government hospitals and Christian Health Association of Malawi hospitals

Cluster randomized trial study

Health workers

The study aimed to assess the effect of mobile phone text message reminders on health workers’ adherence to case management guidelines for malaria and other diseases

Mobile phones

Short messaging service (SMS)

To assist health workers to adhere to patients’ case management in malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea treatment

Reminders

Larissa et al. [31]

Kenya

Urban

Kendu Bay and Rachuonyo districts hospitals

Descriptive qualitative study

Community health workers

The study aimed to examine what specific content and forms of mobile communication are acceptable to support the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)

Mobile phones

SMS and voice calls

To help infected HIV pregnant mothers to adhere to ART medication procedure to improve PMTCT

Reminders

Marufu et al. [34]

Zimbabwe

Urban

District hospital

Quantitative study

Health workers

The study aimed to determine the use of mHealth and identifying and describing the opportunities and the challenges faced by medical doctors in using mHealth at a specific health care facility

Cell phones

Voice calls and mobile website

Voice calls were used for appointments and medication reminders

Mobile website for medical/clinical research

Reminders

Moodley et al. [33]

South Africa

Urban

Cape Town tertiary hospital

Mixed method study

Primary health workers

The study aimed to determine the feasibility of mobile health technology to improve management and follow-up of clients with cervical cancer precursor lesions

Mobile phones

SMS

For delivering test results in cervical cancer and appointment reminders

Reminders and follow-ups

Nelissen et al. [32]

Nigeria

Urban

University teaching hospital and Pharmacy-based care model

Mixed method study

Health workers

The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a pharmacy-based hypertension care model using mHealth

Mobile

phones

Mobile apps and phone calls

For monitoring and ensuring that patients adhere to medication procedures of hypertension

Reminders and follow-ups

Nhavoto et al. [1]

Mozambique

Semi-urban

Machava II health centre, Matolla I & II health centres, Namaacha health centre, and Ndlavela Health centre

Qualitative study

Health workers

The study aimed to examine patients' and healthcare workers' views on an mHealth intervention aiming to support retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) and tuberculosis (TB) treatment

Mobile phones

SMS

For appointments, collection of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and tuberculosis drugs, and medication adherence

Reminders and follow-ups

Smillie et al. [30]

Kenya

Semi-urban

Kibera Community health centre (KCHC) and Research Foundation (AMREF) clinic

Qualitative study

Community health workers

The study aimed to explore the experiences of people living with HIV and their perceptions of communicating via text message with healthcare providers

Mobile phones

SMS (WelTel) and voice calls

To monitor HIV patients’ conditions and provide medication guidelines

Reminders and follow-ups

Lester et al. [4]

Kenya

Urban, semi-urban and rural

University of Nairobi Pumwani clinic, Coptic Hope Centre for Infectious Diseases and Kajiado clinic

Randomized controlled trial study

Health workers

The study aimed to assess whether mobile phone communication between health workers and patients starting ART improved drug adherence and suppression of plasma HIV1

Mobile phones

SMS

To assist HIV diagnosed patients to adhere to treatment compliance and medication adherence

Reminders and follow-ups

Hirsch-Moverman et al. [14]

Lesotho

Semi-urban

Berea district health facilities

Cluster randomized controlled trial study

Health workers

The study aimed to describe the use and acceptability of mHealth by patients with HIV/TB and health care providers

Mobile phones

SMS

For clinic appointments and support patients on HIV and TB medication adherence

Reminders and follow-ups

Zurovac et al. [11]

Kenya

Rural

Rural government health centres

Cluster randomized controlled trial study

Health workers

This study aimed to assess whether text-message reminders sent to health workers’ mobile phones could improve and maintain their adherence to treatment guidelines for outpatient paediatric malaria

Mobile phones

SMS

To assist health workers to adhere to malaria treatment guidelines

Reminders

Hardy et al. [36]

Malawi

Rural

Village clinics within Mzimba & Rumphi districts

Cluster randomized controlled trial study

Community health workers

To evaluate the added value of the Supporting LIFE electronic

Community Case Management Application (SL eCCM App) compared to paper-based Community Case Management on urgent referral, re-consultation, and hospitalization rates, in two districts in Northern Malawi

Mobile phones

Mobile apps

To help community health workers to adhere to referral recommendations or guidelines in treating sick children under 5-years

Reminders and follow-ups

Yahya., 2019 (37)

Nigeria

Urban

Public, private and faith-based hospitals

Quantitative study

Health workers

To examine ownership, frequency and pattern of use and problems encountered in the use of smartphones among all category of medical doctors in hospitals in Kaduna, Nigeria

Smart-phones

Mobile apps

To assist medical doctors in checking details of diseases, making differential diagnoses of diseases, determining drugs that might be useful for a particular condition, and assessing their interactions with other drugs

Reminders