System Design for Community Healthcare Workers Using ICT

This paper presents a case study in the design of a mobile based community healthcare communication system within a larger health project named ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists). The paper outlines the process of conceptualizing and modelling a health system involving community healthcare workers in a rural setting in India. The aim of the designed system is to enhance the efficiency of the field level community health workers in carrying out their prescribed work. The methodology involved, the identification of needs and problems as well as the development of the mobile based approach is outlined in this paper. It includes the initial design of the system up to the GUI and final working prototype run on a mobile. System analysis and information design principles were incorporated during the development process. Results of a limited testing of the design are also reported in the paper. The study reported includes findings from 8 village community healthcare workers and 3 doctors using the developed application. The targeted users were asked to evaluate the designed interfaces and information architecture in terms of their learn ability, ease of use, efficiency and adaptability. It was found that using the application reduced the cognitive load of the healthcare workers and assisted them in their work. The community healthcare workers were able to engage better with the rural people using this application.