Beneficiary satisfaction with mobile medical units in the state of Andhra Pradesh

Authors

  • Amrutha Nair Clinical Domain, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India
  • Aakash A. Raikwar Clinical Domain, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0847-6893
  • M. Abdul Wassey Clinical Domain, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India
  • Vishal Dogra Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20205723

Keywords:

Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Mobile medical unit, Non-communicable disease, Primary health care

Abstract

Background: Mobile health services in India have gained significant attention recently. However, there is little information regarding the beneficiary satisfaction of such services. Beneficiaries’ satisfaction and perception plays significant role in utilization of services. We assess the program beneficiaries’ satisfaction of using mobile health services in rural Andhra Pradesh.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design to survey the mobile health services program beneficiaries in rural Andhra Pradesh (October 2016 to October 2018). Beneficiaries availing the mobile health services from 277 mobile medical vans across 13523 villages were selected using multistage sampling. Exit interviews (using Likert-scale questions) were used to reveal the ease of access in utilising mobile health services and satisfaction among the program beneficiaries.

Results: A total, 1080 exit interviews were conducted. Above ninety percent of beneficiaries completed the exit interviews (response rate: 95%). More than two-thirds (72%) of the respondents were females and aged >45 years (71%). Of all respondents, the majority were Hindu (89%), belonging to socially disadvantaged groups (80%), and illiterate (56%). Nearly all (95%) program beneficiaries found mobile health services easily accessible and building their knowledge and awareness (94%) on key health issues. Ninety-five percent of the program beneficiaries strongly favoured recommending the use of mobile health services to others. The overall satisfaction rate was 95% (Cronbach alpha 0.925).

Conclusions: Mobile health services in rural areas are effective in meeting the beneficiaries’ expectations. High beneficiary satisfaction and trust in mobile health services strongly favours such services in other rural geographies.

Author Biographies

Amrutha Nair, Clinical Domain, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India

Clinical Domain, Piramal swasthya Mangement and Reserach Institute

Aakash A. Raikwar, Clinical Domain, Piramal Swasthya Management, and Research Institute. Hyderabad, India

I an Health economics Researcher working in Piramal Foundation. My role is to do research on Health and Economics. My forte is Health economics and statistics. My overall experience ios of five years in Reserach Field.

References

Sodani P, Sharma K. Strengthening primary level health service delivery: lessons from a state in India. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2012;1(2):127.

Pandve H, Pandve T. Primary healthcare system in India: Evolution and challenges. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manag. 2013;1(3):125.

Kumar R. Academic institutionalisation of community health services: Way ahead in medical education reforms. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2012;1(1):10.

Indian Institute for Population Sciences. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16 India. 2017. Available from: http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-4Reports/India.pdf.

Campbell J, Dussault G, Buchan J, Pozo-Martin F, Arias MG, Leone C, et al. A Universal Truth: No Health without a workforce. Vol 12. World Health Organization: Geneva; 2013.

World Health Organization. Global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030. Geneva: WHO; 2016.

Karan A, Negandhi H, Nair R, Sharma A, Tiwari R, Zodpey S. Size, composition and distribution of human resource for health in India: new estimates using National Sample Survey and Registry data. BMJ Open. 2019;9(4).

Selvaraj S, Farooqui HH, Karan A. Quantifying the financial burden of households’ out-of-pocket payments on medicines in India: a repeated cross-sectional analysis of National Sample Survey data, 1994-2014. BMJ Open. 2018;8(5):1-10.

Pandey A, Ploubidis GB, Clarke L, Dandona L. Trends in catastrophic health expenditure in India: 1993 to 2014. Bull World Health Organ. 2018;96(1):18-28.

Chavan S, Kemparaj U, Rajdha A, Baghele O. Public-private partnership to enhance oral health in India. J Interdiscip Dent. 2012;2(2):135.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Operational Guidelines for Mobile Medical Units. New Delhi; 2015. Available from: http://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/Operational%20Guidelines%20for%20Mobile%20Medical%20Units.pdf.

Rublee DA. The quality of care: how can it be assessed? JAMA J Am Med Assoc. 1989;261(8):1151.

Hofer R, Choi H, Mase R, Fagerlin A, Spencer M, Heisler M. Mediators and moderators of improvements in medication adherence: secondary analysis of a community health worker-led diabetes medications self-management support program. Heal Educ Behav. 2017;44(2):285-96.

Jha AK, Orav EJ, Zheng J, Epstein AM. Patients’ perception of hospital care in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(18):1921-31.

Ali S, Chessex C, Bassett-Gunter R, Grace SL. Patient satisfaction with cardiac rehabilitation: Association with utilisation, functional capacity, and heart-health behaviors. Patient Prefer Adher. 2017;11:821-30.

Ferketich S. Focus on psychometrics. Aspects of item analysis. Res Nurs Health. 1991;14(2):165-8.

Manarkattu AJ. Knowledge and Utilisation of HMRI Health Services in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. 2009:1-61.

Yu SWY, Hill C, Ricks ML, Bennet J, Oriol NE. The scope and impact of mobile health clinics in the United States: A literature review. Int J Equity Health. 2017;16(1):1-12.

Narathius A. Feasibility study of the mobile van for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS. Kampala; 2004.

Peters G, Doctor H, Afenyadu G, Findley S, Ager A. Mobile clinic services to serve rural populations in Katsina State, Nigeria: Perceptions of services and patterns of utilisation. Health Policy Plan. 2014;29(5):642-9.

Selvaraj S, Karan AK. Deepening health insecurity in India: Evidence from national sample surveys since 1980s. Econ Polit Wkly. 2009;44(40):55-60.

Becker MH, Drachman RH, Kirscht JP. Predicting mothers’ compliance with pediatric medical regimens. J Pediatr. 1972;81(4):843-54.

Eisenthal S, Emery R, Lazare A, Udin H. ‘Adherence’ and the negotiated approach to patienthood. Arch Gen Psychiatr. 1979;36(4):393-8.

Lee Y, Kasper JD. Assessment of medical care by elderly people: general satisfaction and physician quality. Health Serv Res. 1998;32(6):741-58.

Yu SWY, Hill C, Ricks ML, Bennet J, Oriol NE. The scope and impact of mobile health clinics in the United States: A literature review. Int J Equity Health. 2017;16(1):1-12.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-25

How to Cite

Nair, A., Raikwar, A. A., Wassey, M. A., & Dogra, V. (2020). Beneficiary satisfaction with mobile medical units in the state of Andhra Pradesh. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(1), 366–371. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20205723

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles