Perceptions for integrating IoT in electronic health records for mental health follow-up: an exploratory study in Tanzania

Purpose This study aims to examine healthcare professionals’ perceptions of integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to enhance follow-up care for mental health patients in Tanzania, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers and implementation strategies. Design/methodology/approach A convergent mixed-methods design, grounded in a pragmatic research philosophy, was employed at Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital. Twenty healthcare professionals, including clinicians, nurses, ICT officers, health records officers and administrators, were purposively selected. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically to enable triangulation of findings. Findings Participants perceived strong potential for IoT–EHR integration to improve early relapse detection, enhance treatment adherence, and support patient engagement through continuous monitoring. However, significant barriers were identified, including limited digital infrastructure, financial constraints, inadequate technical skills, interoperability challenges, and concerns related to data privacy and governance. Qualitative findings reinforced these results, highlighting system fragility, lack of training and absence of clear policy frameworks as critical constraints. Proposed strategies included targeted capacity building, infrastructure investment, leadership commitment and development of data governance policies. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides one of the first empirical insights from Tanzania on IoT–EHR integration in mental health care. It provides context-specific evidence on readiness and implementation challenges in a low-resource setting, offering practical and policy-relevant guidance to advance digital mental health innovations in similar contexts.