We read with interest the ‘Journal Club’ section in the September 2016
issue of Indian Pediatrics, which commented on a randomized
controlled trial on association between the Safe Delivery App and
quality of care and perinatal survival in Ethiopia [1]. The commentary
from an evidence-based-medicine viewpoint [2] rightly suggests that
there are limited randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews on
the efficacy of m-health, but we disagree with the viewpoint mentioned
in the neonatologist’s perspective [3] that the utility of a
mobile-based application is limited, and it cannot be applied to the
current health system.
We would like to share that the management of common
conditions in sick neonates has been created as point-of-care tool on
Android devices, meant for health-care professionals, by the World
Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHO-CC) for Training and
Research in Newborn Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS), New Delhi. This ‘App’ has already been tested for content
reliability and validity at WHO-CC. Its efficacy in sick newborn care
has been reported among the nursing students [4], and amongst the
physicians involved in the direct management of sick newborns at
district hospital level [5].
The importance of revamping education of health care
professionals using information technology has been a new global mantra
[6]. There has been an ongoing emphasis on competency-driven approach
and use of digital media. There is also evidence of increasing use of
smart phones and mobile apps in recent times. In the light of our study
and increasing usage of these mobile devices, this avenue may serve as a
simple, bed side useful tool for improving clinical practices, and also
as a refresher tool for continuing education of health care
professionals for evidence-based management of sick neonates.
References
1. Lund S, Boas IM, Bedesa T, Fekede W, Nielsen HS,
Sorensen BL. Association between the Safe Delivery App and quality of
care and perinatal survival in Ethiopia: A randomized clinical trial.
JAMA Pediatr. 2016;170:765-71.
2. Mathew JL. Efficacy of a mobile based application
on quality of care and perinatal mortality: Evidence based medicine
viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53:823-7.
3. Nimbalkar SM. Efficacy of a mobile-based
application on quality of care and perinatal mortality: Neonatologist’s
viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53:827-8.
4. Thukral A, Joshi M, Joshi P, Prakash V, Adkoli BV,
Deorari AK. Apps for management of sick newborn: evaluation of impact on
health care professionals. J Trop Pediatr. 2014;60:370-6.
5. Prakash V, Thukral A, Sankar MJ, Agarwal R, Paul
VK, Deorari AK. Efficacy and acceptability of an "App on sick newborn
care" in physicians from newborn units. BMC Med Educ. 2016;16:84.
6. Frenk J, Chen L, Bhutta ZA, Cohen J, Crisp N, Evans T, et al.
Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to
strengthen health systems in an interdependent world. Lancet.
2010;376:1923-58.