title: LabPush: a pilot study of providing remote clinics with laboratory results via short message service (SMS) in Swaziland, Africa - a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developing countries are confronting a steady growth in the prevalence of the infectious diseases. Mobile technologies are widely available and can play an important role in health care at the regional, community, and individual levels. Although labs usually able to accomplish the requested blood test and produce the results within two days after receiving the samples, but the time for the results to be delivered back to clinics is quite variable depending on how often the motorbike transport makes trips between the clinic and the lab.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we seek to assess factors facilitating as well as factors hindering the adoption of mobile devices in the Swazi healthcare through evaluating the end-users of the LabPush system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study with semi-structured and in-depth one on one interviews were conducted over two month period July-August 2012. Purposive sampling was used; participants were those operating and using the LabPush system at the remote clinics, at the national laboratory and the supervisors of users at Swaziland. Interview questions were focused on perceived of ease of use and usefulness of the system. All interviews were recorded and then transcribed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study had aimed its primary focus on reducing TAT, prompt patient care, reducing bouncing of patients and defaulting of patients which were challenges that the clinicians have always had. Therefore, the results revealed several barriers and facilitators to the adoption of mobile device by healthcare providers in the Swaziland. The themes Shortens TAT, Technical support, Patient-centered care, Mindset, Improved communication, Missing Reports, Workload, Workflow, Security of smart phone, Human error and Ownership are sorted by facilitators to barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus the end-users perspective, prompt patient care, reduced bouncing of patients, technical support, better communication, willing participant and social influence were facilitators of the adoption m-health in the Swazi healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: b8501043@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wen-Rui
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: elsahsu@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: kcc@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kuan-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: linus@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsien-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: usman.iqbal85@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: alexnthhp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Phung-Anh
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: weigo7729@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan. Electronic address: itpharmacist@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hsuan-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan. Electronic address: peisanlee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Peisan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Office of Research and Development, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: sandy@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Mei-Hsuan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: sharoonshl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sharoon Lungile
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hlatshwayo
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jaak88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan Jack
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. Electronic address: jj@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wen-Shan
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jian
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D003906:Developing Countries; D013541:Eswatini; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging
keywords: LabPush; Laboratory results via short message service (SMS); Qualitative study; Remote clinics; Swazi healthcare; Turnaround time (TAT); mhealth