Scaling Phone-Based PROM Collection Across Low-Resource Settings: Learnings From MomCare, a Digital Pregnancy Care...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Services Research
• Global Health

Background:

• Value-based healthcare (VBHC) requires scalable methods for collecting patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs/PREMs).
• Implementing digital health solutions in low- and middle-income countries presents unique challenges and opportunities.
• The MomCare digital pregnancy care bundle aimed to address these needs in Kenya and Tanzania.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present implementation insights from the MomCare digital pregnancy care bundle.
• To evaluate the scalability of phone-based PROM/PREM collection in resource-constrained health systems.
• To analyze the impact of implementation choices on patient reach, data quality, and cost.

Main Methods:

• The MomCare study utilized phone-based data collection, transitioning from SMS surveys to computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
• Implementation focused on design choices like standardization, contextualization, and automation.
• Data were collected from over 7000 women in Kenya and Tanzania.

Main Results:

• Phone-based PROM/PREM collection was successfully scaled to over 7000 women.
• The transition to CATI improved patient reach and data quality.
• Costs were reduced with increased scale, demonstrating cost-efficiency.
• Design choices positively influenced feasibility and value generation.

Conclusions:

• Phone-based PROM/PREM collection is a scalable solution for resource-constrained health systems.
• Implementation insights from MomCare offer practical recommendations for strengthening patient-centered care.
• Findings support embedding patient voices in quality improvement and VBHC models in low- and middle-income countries.