Implementation of WHO SMART Guidelines-Digital Adaptation Kits in Pathfinder Countries in Africa: Processes and Early...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Global Health

Background:

• Digital systems are crucial for achieving universal health coverage through quality assurance and standard adoption.
• The World Health Organization developed Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) within the SMART guidelines framework to facilitate the integration of standards into digital health systems.
• A systematic process is needed to effectively implement DAKs and measure their impact in diverse country contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail a structured, stepwise approach for customizing DAKs to national contexts in five African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• To assess the readiness for guideline digitization and identify opportunities for digital system uptake in these countries.
• To leverage existing digital health investments and systems for enhanced guideline implementation.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a DAK assessment tool to evaluate country-specific needs and opportunities.
• Establishment of multistakeholder teams to review and align generic DAK content with national guidelines and protocols.
• Conducting a series of stakeholder consultations, including orientation, content review, validation, and software update meetings.

Main Results:

• Country adaptation processes identified specific requirements for national contextualization and areas for DAK refinement.
• Quality assurance measures during content review and validation ensured alignment with national health protocols.
• The adaptation process facilitated the integration of the DAKs approach into national sexual and reproductive health guidelines and strategic documents.

Conclusions:

• Country experiences demonstrate the benefits of a structured approach for digitalizing primary healthcare services.
• The adaptation process highlights the potential for continuous refinement and sustainability of digital health initiatives.
• Successful implementation of DAKs can enhance country-level impact and contribute to universal health coverage goals.