{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T05:53:36Z","timestamp":1791179616592,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791158400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The rapid expansion of digital technologies is transforming health systems and creating increasing demand for a workforce with competencies in health informatics, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital health governance, and implementation. However, digital health training remains fragmented in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Tanzania. This study describes the systematic, evidence-based process used to develop an MSc Digital Health program at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A mixed-methods curriculum development approach was undertaken, comprising document review and benchmarking, a quantitative stakeholder survey, qualitative interviews with alumni of the MSc Health Information Management program, and a stakeholder consultative workshop. Nine higher-education and competency-framework sources were reviewed to identify gaps and emerging competency domains. A structured survey was administered to 48 stakeholders purposively selected from government, non-governmental, private-sector, and start-up organizations. Qualitative data from alumni interviews and open-ended survey responses were analyzed thematically using manual coding by two independent coders. A two-day consultative workshop involving 22 stakeholders from academia, professional associations, non-governmental organizations, government, and clinical practice reviewed and validated the proposed curriculum.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Benchmarking demonstrated substantial variability in digital health curriculum content, with no single program comprehensively covering all priority competency domains. Stakeholders identified AI and machine learning (48.0%) and big data and analytics (41.7%) as prominent emerging technology competencies, while data science and predictive analytics, health information systems and interoperability, cybersecurity and data privacy, and epidemiology and biostatistics were also emphasized. Overall, 81.3% of survey respondents considered digital health competencies highly important to their organizations, while 89.6% indicated willingness to employ MUHAS MSc Digital Health graduates. Qualitative findings emphasized five priority areas: advanced computing and emerging technologies; applied health data science and analytics; health systems architecture and interoperability; experiential learning and program delivery; and governance, cybersecurity, leadership, and professional ethics. Workshop participants endorsed the proposed curriculum and recommended stronger practical learning, field attachment, innovation-oriented projects, and alignment of course content with emerging workforce needs. The resulting program was structured as a two-year, full-time MSc Digital Health program with three specialization tracks: Digital Health Leadership, Digital Health Systems Development, and Health Data Science and AI.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The MUHAS MSc Digital Health curriculum was developed through an iterative, evidence-informed, and stakeholder-driven process that integrates multidisciplinary digital health competencies with practical, implementation-oriented learning. The approach provides a potentially adaptable model for curriculum development in LMIC settings. Future evaluation should assess program implementation, graduate competencies, employment outcomes, employer satisfaction, and contribution to national digital health transformation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1895664","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T05:32:39Z","timestamp":1791178359000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Development of a master of science in digital health program at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania: a mixed-methods curriculum development study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Felix","family":"Sukums","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linda Simon","family":"Paulo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yoktan","family":"Thadeo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mpanga","family":"Paul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samwel","family":"Mndima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juliana","family":"Mbuke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Chaula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junior","family":"Kaskazi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amani","family":"Anaeli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Obadia","family":"Nyongole","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences","place":["Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020\u20132025","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S1","DOI":"10.9745\/GHSP-D-18-00342","article-title":"Digital health and health Systems of the Future","volume":"6","author":"Labrique","year":"2018","journal-title":"Glob Health Sci Pract"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"Global Digital Health Index Indicator Guide","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj-oh.2024.13.9.43014","article-title":"Addressing the health workforce gap to achieve the universal health coverage and \u201cthe Africa we want\u201d","volume":"13","author":"Mbadiwe","year":"2024","journal-title":"PAMJ One Health"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.12856\/JHIA-2020-v7-i1-265","article-title":"Towards a digital health curriculum for health workforce for the African region: a scoping review state of DH workforce and conceptualization of training competencies in the African region","volume":"7","author":"Munene","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Health Inform Afr"},{"key":"ref7","volume-title":"Tanzania Digital Health Transformation Strategy 2025\u20132030","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.66354\/77szsm90","article-title":"Perceived employability of postgraduate graduates from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania: an exploratory qualitative tracer study using the framework method to inform postgraduate training reform","volume":"37","author":"Nyongole","year":"2026","journal-title":"Tanzan Med J"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105944","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmedinf.2025.105944","article-title":"Identifying and prioritising competencies for health informatics master's graduates to support the health sector transformation program in Saudi Arabia","volume":"201","author":"Alshoumr","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Med Inform"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2453131","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.53131","article-title":"The digital health competencies in medical education framework: an international consensus statement based on a Delphi study","volume":"8","author":"Car","year":"2025","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-022-03163-7","article-title":"Digital health competencies in medical school education: a scoping review and Delphi method study","volume":"22","author":"Khurana","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e54112","DOI":"10.2196\/54112","article-title":"Transforming the future of digital health education: redesign of a graduate program using competency mapping","volume":"10","author":"Mun","year":"2024","journal-title":"JMIR Med Educ"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1577494","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2025.1577494","article-title":"A scoping review on the impact of versatile digital health innovations on pharmacy education","volume":"12","author":"Alsulami","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Med"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ckae144.1833","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckae144.1833","article-title":"How much digital public health is taught in German public health programs? A qualitative analysis","volume":"34","author":"Maass","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur J Pub Health"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e15748","DOI":"10.2196\/15748","article-title":"Teaching hands-on informatics skills to future health Informaticians: a competency framework proposal and analysis of health care informatics curricula","volume":"8","author":"Sapci","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Med Inform"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e73088","DOI":"10.2196\/73088","article-title":"Building the workforce's capacity to support the digital transformation of public health: environmental scan of training programs for digital technologies in public health","volume":"11","author":"Iyamu","year":"2025","journal-title":"JMIR Public Health Surveill"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e51389","DOI":"10.2196\/51389","article-title":"Knowledge transfer and networking upon implementation of a transdisciplinary digital health curriculum in a unique digital health training culture: prospective analysis","volume":"10","author":"Kr\u00f6plin","year":"2024","journal-title":"JMIR Med Educ"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e22161","DOI":"10.2196\/22161","article-title":"Undergraduate medical competencies in digital health and curricular module development: mixed methods study","volume":"22","author":"Poncette","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1014375","DOI":"10.3389\/fdgth.2022.1014375","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators for the sustainability of digital health interventions in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review","volume":"4","author":"Kabor\u00e9","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Digit Health"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"04090","DOI":"10.7189\/jogh.12.04090","article-title":"eHealth or e-Chaos: the use of digital health interventions for health systems strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa over the last 10 years: a scoping review","volume":"12","author":"Karamagi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Glob Health"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e56747","DOI":"10.2196\/56747","article-title":"Recommendations for successful development and implementation of digital health technology tools","volume":"27","author":"Loo","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1038\/s41746-022-00557-1","article-title":"Deploying digital health tools within large, complex health systems: key considerations for adoption and implementation","volume":"5","author":"Marwaha","year":"2022","journal-title":"NPJ Digit Med"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591-018-0316-z","article-title":"A guide to deep learning in healthcare","volume":"25","author":"Esteva","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1216","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMp1606181","article-title":"Predicting the future \u2013 big data, machine learning, and clinical medicine","volume":"375","author":"Obermeyer","year":"2016","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref25","volume-title":"Advancing the Responsible Use of Digital Technologies in Global Health","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3236","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.16096","article-title":"Healthcare professionals' digital health competence profiles and associated factors: a cross-sectional study","volume":"80","author":"Jarva","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Adv Nurs"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.1111\/jocn.14710","article-title":"Healthcare professionals' competence in digitalisation: a systematic review","volume":"28","author":"Konttila","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Clin Nurs"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2055207620985396","DOI":"10.1177\/2055207620985396","article-title":"Workforce challenges in digital health implementation: how are clinical psychology training programmes developing digital competences?","volume":"7","author":"Pote","year":"2021","journal-title":"Digit Health"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"500","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-025-12663-3","article-title":"Enhancing digital readiness and capability in healthcare: a systematic review of interventions, barriers, and facilitators","volume":"25","author":"Alotaibi","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151922","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apnr.2025.151922","article-title":"Factors influencing digital health competence among healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study","volume":"82","author":"Erfani","year":"2025","journal-title":"Appl Nurs Res"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1766682","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1766682","article-title":"Training needs in data, informatics and technical skills in the US governmental public health workforce","volume":"14","author":"Rajamani","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1842069","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1842069","article-title":"Formalizing digital health competencies for the health workforce in Ukraine","volume":"14","author":"Sergeeva","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104908","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmedinf.2022.104908","article-title":"Recommendations of the international medical informatics association (IMIA) on education in biomedical and health informatics: second revision","volume":"170","author":"Bichel-Findlay","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Med Inform"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.3233\/SHTI220217","article-title":"Educating the healthcare workforce to support digital transformation","volume":"290","author":"Davies","year":"2022","journal-title":"Stud Health Technol Inform"},{"key":"ref35","volume-title":"Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development","author":"Kolb","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"State of the Health Workforce in Africa 2026: Plan, Train and Retain","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref37","volume-title":"Tanzania Development Vision 2050","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref38","article-title":"Planning Commission, United Republic of Tanzania. The Tanzania Development Vision 2025","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.3414\/ME5119","article-title":"Recommendations of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) on education in biomedical and health informatics. First revision","volume":"49","author":"Mantas","year":"2010","journal-title":"Methods Inf Med"},{"key":"ref40","article-title":"Health Information Technology Competencies (HITCOMP) Tool","year":""}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1895664\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T05:32:41Z","timestamp":1791178361000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1895664\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1895664"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1895664","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"article-number":"1895664"}}