Various studies have shown that Vula enabled improved communication, relationships, and trust, and improved coordination of care.

References:

Anore, Z. A., Mohammed, J. M., Sendekie, T. Y., Berhanu, D. D., Peter, J., Mapham, W., Wubneh, S. B., Desta, F. A., & Dagnaw, B. G. (2023, July). Harnessing referrals as a novel data source for improving primary health care workers’ performance in Ethiopia. Ministry of Health Ethiopia, USAID, & Jhpiego.

Blanckenberg, N., & Motala, T. (2022). Facilitating remote access to specialist medical expertise through the scaled‑up adoption of a smartphone application: A South African case. South African Medical Journal, 112(2), 108–112. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35139992/

Du Toit, J., Mann, T. N., Du Preez, G., & Morkel, R. W. (2019). Orthopaedic referrals using a smartphone app: Uptake, response times and outcome. South African Medical Journal, 109(11), 859-864. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-193285a8ed

Gloster, P., Mash, R., & Swartz, S. (2021). Investigating the effect of the Vula Mobile app on coordination of care and capacity building in district health services, Cape Town: Convergent mixed methods study. South African Family Practice, 63(1), e1-e13. doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5251

Mzamo, S., Rajpaul, J., O’Connor, M., Arnold, J., & Marais, L. C. (2023). The use of a mobile software application to improve the management of open tibia fractures in a resource‑constrained environment. South African Orthopaedic Journal, 22(3), 140–145. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-mp_saoj_v22_n3_a7

Ogundaini, O. O., de la Harpe, R., & McLean, N. (2021). Integration of mHealth information and communication technologies into the clinical settings of hospitals in Sub‑Saharan Africa: Qualitative study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(10), e26358. doi: 10.2196/26358

Steyn, L., Mash, R. J., & Hendricks, G. (2022). Use of the Vula App to refer patients in the West Coast District: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study. South African Family Practice, 64(1), e1-e9. doi: 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5491