Strategies for Stakeholder Engagement and Uptake of New Intervention: Experience From State-Wide Implementation of mHealth Technology for NCD Care in Tripura, India.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate strategies and key stakeholder engagement are the keys to successful implementation of new health care interventions. OBJECTIVES: The study sought to articulate the key strategies used for scaling up a research-based intervention, mPower Heart electronic Clinical Decision Support System (e-CDSS), for state-wide implementation at health facilities in Tripura. METHODS: Multiple strategies were used for statewide implementation of mPower Heart e-CDSS at noncommunicable diseases clinics across the government health facilities in Tripura: formation of a technical coordination-cum-support unit, change management, enabling environment, adapting the intervention with user focus, and strengthening the Health Information System. RESULTS: The effective delivery of a new health system intervention requires engagement at multiple levels including political leadership, health administrators, and health professionals, which can be achieved by forming a technical coordination-cum-support unit. It is important to specify the role and responsibilities of existing manpower and provide a structured training program. Enabling environment at health facilities (providing essential equipment, space and time, etc.) is also crucial. Successful implementation also requires that patients, health care providers, the health system, and leadership recognize the immediate and long-term benefits of the new intervention and have a buy-in in the intervention. With constant encouragement and nudge from administrative authorities and by using multiple strategies, 40 government health facilities adopted the mPower Heart e-CDSS. From its launch in May 2017 until November 20, 2018, a total of 100,810 eligible individuals were screened and enrolled, with 35,884 treated for hypertension, 9,698 for diabetes, and 5,527 for both hypertension and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple strategies, based on implementation principles, are required for successful scaling up of research-based interventions.