Community Health Worker Feedback on an mHealth Intervention for Hypertension in Rural Guatemala: Mixed Methods Formative Study.

backgroundHypertension remains a leading global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited health care infrastructure and resources restrict effective management. Community health workers (CHWs) are critical in delivering care in these settings, and when equipped with mobile health (mHealth) apps, they can greatly enhance chronic disease management. Involving CHWs in the design and development at all stages is essential for the success of such programs. However, relatively little research discusses CHW feedback on mHealth interventions.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate CHW feedback on a hypertension program using a novel tablet-based mHealth tool designed for CHW hypertension diagnosis and management in rural Guatemala.

methodsWe conducted a mixed-methods analysis as part of a pilot study in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, involving 6 CHWs over a 6-month period. Quantitative data were collected using the System Usability Scale and Likert-scale surveys before and after study completion. Qualitative data were gathered through written surveys and focus group interviews conducted in Spanish by bilingual team members. These methods assessed the app's ease of use, workflow integration, and cultural appropriateness. CHWs provided detailed perspectives on technical challenges, training adequacy, and patient engagement, which guided iterative refinements to both the mHealth app and the hypertension management program.

resultsThe mHealth app was generally well-received. Average System Usability Scale scores exceeded 70, surpassing established usability thresholds. Likert scale data revealed CHWs found the app to be useful and easy to use, but identified training protocols as areas for improvement. Qualitative analysis of focus groups and written surveys revealed 3 dominant themes. First, CHWs identified practical short-term needs, including slower and more comprehensive training sessions, simplified medication dosing regimens to reduce pill burden, and streamlined survey questions to shorten patient visit times. Second, CHWs raised larger structural concerns, including retention challenges related to financial compensation and misalignment between required clinical data collection and the cultural appropriateness of certain app questions. Third, CHWs highlighted program benefits, including improved patient care and hypertension management, empowerment through educational tools, and increased pride and community trust associated with the program.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that iteratively integrating user feedback into the development of mHealth interventions is key to improve usability, cultural appropriateness, and overall effectiveness of chronic disease management in resource-constrained settings. Due to the small number of CHW participants, as well as a reliance on self-reported perceptions, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than generalizable. This study contributes to the growing literature on mHealth apps for noncommunicable diseases in LMICs and provides insights into CHW experiences. Addressing the technical barriers and systemic challenges identified in this study can help improve future implementations of mHealth-enabled chronic disease programs in LMICs.