College of Information and Communication Technology

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Browsing College of Information and Communication Technology by Author "Bigirwa, Joan Arca Pancras"

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    Strategies for improving hospital information management systems (HIMS): a case of mwananyamala HIMS
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2017) Bigirwa, Joan Arca Pancras
    An extensive body of knowledge related to the problems of health information system in most developing countries has been documented in the literature. However, the specific challenges related to data collection, processing, and utilization in the paper based hospital setting have not been well examined. This deemed important under the current situation of health sector reforms which focus on decentralization. Such reforms call for an in-depth restructuring of information systems, with changing data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination requirements. A mixed method approach was employed to collect data. A total of 89 respondents were recruited. Eighty randomly selected health care workers responded to the quantitative questionnaire, 6 purposively selected in-charges of units participated in a focus group discussion and 3 administrator’s responds to key informant’s interviews. The findings reveal that the paper based HIMS was used at the facility. A number of problems related to the quality of data were observed including incompleteness and unclear information on the tools used for data collection. Inadequate ICT infrastructure, poor tools for data collection, a limited number of skilled staff and lack of standard format of tools used for data collections were some of the challenges reported. As a response to the challenges, respondents and the researcher came up with strategies for improving the existing HIMS. These include training of staff, increase in the number of staff particularly those with HMIS background as well as improving the data collection and recording tools, computerize the existing processes and build a culture of information use among health care workers. Conclusively, system revision and upgrading along with changes are unavoidable due to the revolving nature of hospital information and technology advancement. The study recommends training of health care workers in data management, standardizing and harmonizing data collection forms among vertical programs, enhancing supervision, provision of required ICT infrastructure and computerization of the existing processes as strategies for improving the availability, quality and use of data.