Nikshay-SETU

Introduction

The current intervention involves the implementation of a mHealth knowledge management platform known as Ni-kshay SETU (Support to End Tuberculosis). This platform was meticulously crafted through an initial evidence-generation phase characterized by extensive intervention efforts in the field of public health. Subsequently, it was systematically deployed nationwide in collaboration with State TB Departments, encompassing the comprehensive engagement of their entire healthcare workforce dedicated to the care and management of TB patients. It is a digital solution providing support to health care providers in decision making and transforming knowledge into empowerment to manage persons with TB. This is an innovative and interactive learning tool enhancing the efforts to make TB free India and developed by Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar under “Closing the gaps in Tuberculosis (TB) care cascade” Project supported by USAID.

Objective

The current intervention, Ni-kshay SETU (Support to End Tuberculosis), was specifically designed to mitigate knowledge gaps among healthcare workers involved in the TB care cascade, with a primary focus on providing easy access of the content of all NTEP guidelines with digital interface.

Rationale

The baseline research was conducted on 450+ health care workers to identify the knowledge gaps and 900+ persons with TB to identify the service delivery gaps. The intense efforts were made to gather feedback from the State and District TB officials, experts, front line workers such as CHO, MO PHI, STS, STLS, GHS staff, and private doctors of the project intervention states (Gujarat and Jharkhand). During the baseline research, majority of the healthcare professionals raised the need for trainings on different parameters of TB management and newer information on diagnostic and treatment modalities. The baseline assessment highlighted deficiencies in need-based, cadre-specific training and limited e-learning adoption by the health system. Consequently, consensus emerged to develop a digital solution to reduce the access gaps and avail the newer information without the delay.

Novelty

The application possesses an in-built functionality that enables linkage with third-party applications through API linkage. The source code is available on open-source GitHub repositories under creative commons license GPL-3.0 license, which allows developers to structure the similar built to Ni-kshay SETU. This feature provides wider benefits to agencies working for persons with tuberculosis.

Frontend Apps: https://github.com/iiph-gandhinagar/Ni-kshay-SETU-Frontend

Backend Administration: https://github.com/iiph-gandhinagar/Ni-kshay-SETU-Admin

Development of the Application:

A series of prototypes were created to understand the workflow of different modules and demonstrated with extensive participatory process during the initial phase and then it was rolled out to all States across the country by providing the orientation of its functions, use of the application and backend dashboard management. The State and district TB officers were given the admin credentials for their respective States and Districts.

Application Details

• E- Learning mHealth tool – Works as a ready reckoner, can work based on cadre.
• No patient data to be stored.
• AI-based Interactive Chatbot with over 1000+ Q & A
• Assessment Sections for all health cadres, Resource Materials
• Backend Analytical Dashboard Visuals on login page hits
• Multiple Language Support: 8 languages supported.

Outcome / Achievements of the technology innovation

• 41000+ Subscribers in one year of roll out across 28 States of India. Per day 150+ new users and 400+ visits per day, subscribers are in more than 70% districts of India.
• 72% subscribers are front line workers (ASHA, ANM, Male MPHW, CHOs, Lab tech, Pharmacist, Staff nurses), 15000+ assessment undertaken by the health staff of the public and private institutions.
• Artificial Intelligence enabled chatbot: 1000+ FAQs and 70,000+ Patterns that works with provision of practical solutions of the NTEP program queries.

Resources for Ni-kshay SETU applications: