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Correspondence

Indian Pediatr 2017;54: 63

Mobile-based Applications for Newborn Care

 

Anu Thukral and *Ashok K Deorari

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Email: [email protected]
 

  


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.

 

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