The Utility and Feasibility of Accessible Diarrhea Etiology Prediction Tool (ADEPT) in an Informal Healthcare Setting

Diarrheal disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for children under 5 globally. Accepted best practice for managing diarrhea in the absence of blood or suspicion of cholera is rehydration, however in resource poor areas antibiotics are still prescribed at high rates due to pressures such as financial incentives, caregiver expectations, and diagnostic uncertainty. Informal healthcare providers often serve as first point of care for pediatric diarrhea patients in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) and commonly prescribe antibiotics for pediatric diarrhea at high frequencies.

In this pilot before-after feasibility trial informally trained healthcare providers will use a mobile phone-based application (Accessible Diarrhea Etiology Prediction Tool, ADEPT) which will allow for the exploration of the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the tool, as well as ADEPTs ability to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing practices.