ArticleBMC health services research2019
A time motion study of community mental health workers in rural India.
Article in BMC health services research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Does a paper-based information system based on a human-centred design (PHISICC) reduce the time needed for reporting health data in Nigeria?BMC health services research · 2026Trial
- Effectiveness and acceptability of two insertable device models for non-surgical management of obstetric fistula: protocol for a hybrid type I randomized crossover trial.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Patient Satisfaction with Antiretroviral Therapy Services in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia Using the Donebidean Model: A Time-Motion Study.Patient related outcome measures · 2024Article
- A time-motion study of community health workers delivering community-based primary health care in Neno District, Malawi.Human resources for health · 2023Article
- Review
- Review
- Assessing the time use and payments of multipurpose community health workers for the various roles they play-a quantitative study of the Mitanin programme in India.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- The burden of recording and reporting health data in primary health care facilities in five low- and lower-middle income countries.BMC health services research · 2021Review
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCommunity Health Workers (CHWs) are critical to providing healthcare services in countries such as India which face a severe shortage of skilled healthcare personnel especially in rural areas. The aim of this study is to understand the work flow of CHWs in a rural Community Mental Health Project (CMHP) in India and identify inefficiencies which impede their service delivery. This will aid in formulating a targeted policy approach, improving efficiency and supporting appropriate work allocation as the roles and responsibilities of the CHWs evolve.
methodsA continuous observation Time Motion study was conducted on Community Health Workers selected through purposive sampling. The CHWs were observed for the duration of an entire working day (9 am- 3 pm) for 5 days each, staggered during a period of 1 month. The 14 different activities performed by the CHWs were identified and the time duration was recorded. Activities were then classified as value added, non-value added but necessary and non-value-added to determine their time allocation.
resultsHome visits occupied the CHWs for the maximum number of hours followed by Documentation, and Traveling. Documentation, Administrative work and Review of work process are the non-value-added but necessary activities which consumed a significant proportion of their time. The CHWs spent approximately 40% of their time on value added, 58.5% of their time on non-value added but necessary and 1.5% of their time on non-value added activities. The CHWs worked for 0.7 h beyond the stipulated time daily.
conclusionThe CHW's are "dedicated" mental health workers as opposed to being "generalists" and their activities involve a significant investment of their time due to the specialized nature of the services offered such as counselling, screening and home visits. The CHWs are stretched beyond their standard work hours. Non-value added but necessary activities consumed a significant proportion of their time at the expense of value-added activities. Work flow redesign and implementation of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) can mitigate inefficiencies.
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