Dos and don'ts for mHealth-based clinical support among clinicians in South Africa: Results from a 1-day workshop

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 111; no. 5; p. 416
• Main Authors: Laflamme, L, Chipps, J, Barrett, D, Brysiewicz, P, Duys, R, Evans, K, Jarvis, M A, Mars, M, Stassen, W, Wallis, L A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Health & Medical Publishing Group 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Control; Delivery of Health Care - ethics; Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration; E-health; Epidemics; Health Personnel - organization & administration; Humans; Personal Autonomy; Practice; Quality management; Referral and Consultation; Social aspects; South Africa; Telemedicine - ethics; Telemedicine - organization & administration; South Africa
• ISSN: 0256-9574; 2078-5135
• DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i5.15400

Digital technologies continue to penetrate the South African (SA) healthcare sector at an increasing rate. Clinician-to-clinician diagnostic and management assistance through mHealth is expanding rapidly, reducing professional isolation and unnecessary referrals, and promoting better patient outcomes and more equitable healthcare systems. However, the widespread uptake of mHealth use raises ethical concerns around patient autonomy and safety, and guidance for healthcare workers around the ethical use of mHealth is needed. This article presents the results of a multi-stakeholder workshop at which the 'dos and don'ts' pertaining to mHealth ethics in the SA context were formulated and aligned to seven basic recommendations derived from the literature and previous multi-stakeholder, multi-country meetings.