Evaluation of txt2MEDLINE and Development of Short Messaging Service–Optimized, Clinical Practice Guidelines in Botswana
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Currently clinicians in sub-Saharan Africa have limited access to the Internet, whereas mobile phone access and use is extensive. The University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the National Library of Medicine launched txt2MEDLINE, a short messaging service (SMS) query of PubMed/MEDLINE, and SMS-optimized clinical guidelines in Botswana. The objective of this project was to establish and evaluate the utility of these tools for clinicians in Botswana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A local server was established at the University of Botswana that allowed clinicians to send queries and receive results via local (in-country) SMS text messaging on any type of cellular phone. The queries sent via txt2MEDLINE were returned as abbreviated "the bottom line" summaries of abstracts. The 2007 Botswana Treatment Guide was converted into a format that can be queried by SMS. Various types of healthcare workers were recruited to use and evaluate these services. RESULTS: Seventy-six healthcare workers attended training sessions for these services. In the preusage survey, most said they would use the services daily or weekly. During a 4-week trial period, use of these services dropped off dramatically. Participant feedback was collected and indicated that improvements in ease of use would increase the usage. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot project enables clinicians to query and receive PubMed abstract summaries and country-specific clinical guidelines using mobile phones. Feedback offers insight on how to improve this technology so that it can be adopted for long-term use. With further adjustments, these resources may provide an effective working model for other countries where limited Internet access impedes upon patient care.
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Most SMS-based interventions are pilot tested (stage 3) or at large scale implementation stage (stage 4).
“most SMS based interventions are pilot tested (stage 3) [31,34,37,38,42,71] or at large scale implementation stage (stage 4) [28 -30,32,35].”
From Current evidence on the use of mHealth approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review (2023) · cites this paper as [42]
In Botswana, SMS delivery of medical abstracts in response to SMS queries has been demonstrated to be useful in areas with poor mobile Internet access.
“SMS delivery of medical abstracts in response to SMS queries has been demonstrated to be useful in areas with poor mobile Internet access in Botswana (13).”
From Assessing the impact of mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries – what has been shown to work? (2014) · cites this paper as [13]
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Weinberg, J. L., Kaddu, S., Gabler, G., & Kovarik, C. (2009) · PubMed Central · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationHealth capacity development through telemedicine in Africa
Mars, M. (2010) · Yearbook of Medical Informatics · doi:10.1055/s-0038-1638696 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Chang, L. W., Mwanika, A., Kaye, D. K., Muhwezi, W. W., Nabirye, R. C., Mbalinda, S. N., Okullo, I., Kennedy, C. E., Groves, S. L., Sisson, S. D., et al. (2011) · Informatics for Health and Social Care · doi:10.3109/17538157.2010.542530 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Txt2MEDLINE: text-messaging access to MEDLINE/PubMed.
Fontelo, P. A., Liu, F., Muin, M., Tolentino, H., & Ackerman, M. (2006) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 16 · see citing works
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Hall, C. S., Fottrell, E., Wilkinson, S., & Byass, P. (2014) · Global Health Action · doi:10.3402/gha.v7.25606 · Cited by 384 · see citing works
The Empirical Foundations of Teledermatology: A Review of the Research Evidence
Bashshur, R. L., Shannon, G. W., Tejasvi, T., Kvedar, J. C., & Gates, M. (2015) · Telemedicine and e-Health · doi:10.1089/tmj.2015.0146 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
The development of telemedicine programs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress and associated challenges
Dodoo, J. E., Al-Samarraie, H., & Alsswey, A. (2022) · Health and Technology · doi:10.1007/s12553-021-00626-7 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Current evidence on the use of mHealth approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Aboye, G. T., Vande Walle, M., Simegn, G. L., & Aerts, J.-M. (2023) · Health Policy and Technology · doi:10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100806 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
McFarland, L. V., Raugi, G. J., & Reiber, G. E. (2013) · Telemedicine and e-Health · doi:10.1089/tmj.2012.0327 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
- Authors
- Armstrong, K., Liu, F., Seymour, A., Mazhani, L., Littman-Quinn, R., Fontelo, P., & Kovarik, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- United States National Library of Medicine (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- University of Botswana (BW)
- Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Corresponding author
- Kovarik, Carrie
- Venue
- Telemedicine and e-Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-01
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 14-17
- ISSN
- 1530-5627 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-3669
- OpenAlex
- W2135737066
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 5.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- repository.upenn.edu
- Locations
- Telemedicine Journal and e-Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Clinical practice guidelines implementation
- Keywords
- short message service, mobile health, limited internet access, sub-Saharan Africa, health professions education, technology adoption, user feedback, mobile phone access
- MeSH terms
- Botswana, Developing Countries, Faculty, Medical, Humans, Pilot Projects, MEDLINE, Program Development, Focus Groups, Telemedicine, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Education, Distance, Internet, Cell Phone, Text Messaging
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