ArticleBMJ open2022
'[We] learned how to speak with love': a qualitative exploration of accredited social health activist (ASHA) community health worker experiences of the Mobile Academy refresher training in Rajasthan, India.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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6 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- A qualitative study on ASHA workers' perspective on HPV self-sampling in Sikkim India.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A mixed methods evaluation of the impact of ECHOHuman resources for health · 2024Article
- A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis of factors affecting mHealth adoption in India.Oxford open digital health · 2024Article
- Digital education for health professionals in India: a scoping review of the research.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Using behavioural design and theories of change to integrate communication solutions into health systems in India: evolution, evidence and learnings from practice.Integrated healthcare journal · 2022Review
- Examining the reach and exposure of a mobile phone-based training programme for frontline health workers (ASHAs) in 13 states across India.BMJ global health · 2021Review
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionMobile Academy is a mobile-based training course for India's accredited social health activist (ASHA) community health workers (CHW). The course, which ASHAs access by dialling a number from their phones, totals 4 hours of audio content. It consists of 11 chapters, each with their own quiz, and provides a cumulative pass or fail score at the end. This qualitative study of Mobile Academy explores how the programme was accessed and experienced by CHWs, and how they perceive it to have influenced their work.
methodsWe conducted in-depth interviews (n=25) and focus group discussions (n=5) with ASHAs and other health system actors. Open-ended questions explored ASHA perspectives on Mobile Academy, the course's perceived influence on ASHAs and preferences for future training programmes. After applying a priori codes to the transcripts, we identified emergent themes and grouped them according to our CHW mLearning framework.
resultsASHAs reported enjoying Mobile Academy, specifically praising its friendly tone and the ability to repeat content. They, and higher level health systems actors, conceived it to primarily be a test not a training. ASHAs reported that they found the quizzes easy but generally did not consider the course overly simplistic. ASHAs considered Mobile Academy's content to be a useful knowledge refresher but said its primary benefit was in modelling a positive communications approach, which inspired them to adopt a kinder, more 'loving' communication style when speaking to beneficiaries. ASHAs and health system actors wanted follow-on mLearning courses that would continue to compliment but not replace face-to-face training.
conclusionThis mLearning programme for CHWs in India was well received by ASHAs across a wide range of education levels and experience. Dial-in audio training has the potential to reinforce topical knowledge and showcase positive ways to communicate.
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