Evidence mapPaperPMID 41534945Full record

ArticleBMJ global health2026

How to design decision-support tools for primary healthcare using a human-centred design approach: the processes and experience of PHISICC in three Sub-Saharan countries.

Damaris Rodriguez Franco, Co-creation groups, Christian Auer, Meike-Kathrin Zuske, Angela Oyo-Ita, Artur Muloliwa, Richard B Yapi, Salimata Berté, Mamadou Samba, Abdullahi Bulama Garba and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ global health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Damaris Rodriguez FrancoSonder Collective, Madrid, Spain.
Co-creation groups
Christian AuerSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-9652
Meike-Kathrin ZuskeSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Angela Oyo-ItaDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Artur MuloliwaCentro de Estudos Interdisciplinares Lúrio, Universidade Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique.
Richard B YapiCentre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire.
Salimata BertéCentre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire.
Mamadou SambaMinistère de la Santé, de l'Hygiene Publique et de la Couverture Maladie Universelle, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Abdullahi Bulama GarbaNational Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja, Nigeria.
Anthonia Ngozi NjepuomeIndependent consultant, Abuja, Nigeria.
Nnette EkpenyongDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Graça MatsinhePopulation Services International (PSI), Luanda, Angola.
David BrownBCGI LLC / pivot-23.5°, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
L Kendall KrauseGates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Jahit SacarlalDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Maputo City, Mozambique.
Xavier Bosch-CapblanchSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland x.bosch@unibas.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4469-0395

Funding

Gates Foundation INV-010193
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHealthcare delivery should be based on evidence-informed decisions in the clinical, public health, managerial and policy domains. Data are gathered at the point of care via routine health information systems (RHIS). The Paper-based Health Information Systems in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) project shifted the paradigm from data collection to decision-making, especially decision-making at the point of care by the frontline health workers. We used a human-centred design (HCD) approach to re-design a RHIS that is responsive to the needs of frontline health workers.

methodsThe PHISICC research programme took place in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria and included the design and testing of a suite of paper-based RHIS tools. We report here the results of the HCD process. This was structured into three phases: (1) setup of co-creation group, (2) concept exploration and (3) detailed design phase.

resultsThe concept exploration included a brainstorming session and produced 'quick paper mock-ups', such as ideas to follow-up patients' healthcare. The output of this 'concept workshop' was a design hypothesis of the health information system. A follow-up workshop identified the healthcare areas to prioritise. The first round of design developed a version of several tools. The second round consisted of user testing in the three countries. Several iterations were implemented, incorporating health workers' feedback. Tools were pilot-tested and then produced and distributed for use in a cluster randomised controlled trial.

conclusionThe design phase of PHISICC combined HCD with clinical and public health domains. RHIS should be designed by qualified designers, content experts and users who focus on aiding decision-making of frontline health workers, applying a user-centred approach, from problem identification up to solution testing, multidisciplinarity, flexibility, teamwork and trust. We call for researchers, designers, healthcare providers, healthcare authorities and funding agencies to propose and pilot quality standards for the implementation and reporting of HCD in global health.

Indexed as

Decision Support TechniquesHealth Information SystemsPrimary Health CareAfrica South of the SaharaCote d'IvoireHumansMozambiqueNigeriaDecision MakingGlobal HealthHealth services researchHealth systemsInterdisciplinary Research

Identifiers

PMID41534945
PMCPMC12815237

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.