Healthcare workers' informal use of their personal mobile phones to support their work: Global evidence and evidence from Uganda

Healthcare workers sometimes use their personal mobile phones at work even though this is not formally organised or regulated. Healthcare workers in Uganda and in many other countries worldwide describe how this can help them work more efficiently and be more responsive to patients’ and colleagues needs. But they also describe how it can lead to challenges for patients, healthcare workers and the healthcare system. The information in this summary is based on: a systematic review of qualitative studies from all countries, exploring healthcare workers’ informal use of their mobile phones two qualitative studies of Ugandan healthcare workers’ and policy makers’ views and experiences of informal mobile phone use.