Data governance in healthcare information systems: A systematic literature review

Background: This study aimed to investigate data governance (DG) related to challenges associated with healthcare information systems (HIS), by reviewing guidelines emerging from academic sources as part of a consolidated systematic literature review (SLR). The research contributed theoretically towards the body of knowledge, by reviewing challenges and guidelines related to DG within the healthcare environment. It contributed practically to the body of knowledge through understanding the healthcare information's systems status. The study also contributed methodologically and significantly to SLR strategies. Objectives: The objective of this study was to understand the features of HIS; acquire information about DG success and understand the influence noted on DG. Method: The study conducted an SLR over the period 2010­2020. Literature collection was not only restricted to South African publications but was extended to international sources. This study adapted a mono method. Results: The study revealed that many organisations have realised that the only method to fix the data problem is the implementation of effective DG. With the increased adoption and rise of cloud computing, DG is gaining interest amongst specialists. Conclusion: The shift from paper-based systems led organisations to seek organisational change through digital transformation. The proper collection and utilisation of electronic healthcare record is the foundation of the digital healthcare. Many organisations value DG as a promising method of maintaining data as a valuable asset.

Research into practice: the path to development of an African network of knowledge brokers among health librarians

The knowledge broker role is an opportunity for librarians to support health care workers' by inserting knowledge into the nurse's frontline clinical practice. Conception of an African network of knowledge brokers arose out of a knowledge broker project for health care workers initiated at Chitambo District hospital of Chitambo district in Central Zambia by the Friends of Chitambo. The pilot knowledge broker learning course was designed through a collaborative network between organisations in Scotland, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Zambia. The course was set in modules corresponding to elements of the Promoting Action on Research Implementation Framework ­Evidence, Context and Facilitation. Formation of the African knowledge broker network was instigated through the course designed for health librarians from Zambia and Zimbabwe. The course has been refined and was to be delivered to six health librarians from Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia in March 2020; which was postponed due to COVID-19. An envisaged online version could not take place as most participants indicated lack of access to the internet due to the fact that their workplaces went on recess owing to COVID-19.The pilot knowledge broker learning course for Africa marks the beginning of the practice of knowledge brokering by African health librarians.

Trends of alcohol abuse using surveillance data from the Health Management Information System (HMIS) of Uganda

Introduction: Uganda has the highest alcohol per capita consumption in Africa. Surveillance data was analysed to describe trends in alcohol abuse by gender, identify districts with most cases and describe trends of annual rates by region.Methods: data was from HMIS 108 (inpatient), HMIS 105 (outpatient) forms. Total number of cases was acquired by summing age-aggregated cases by gender in both reports. Rates of alcohol abuse were acquired by dividing annual total cases by annual regional projected population.Results: 57897 cases were reported between 2010 and 2014. Most were males 72% (1963). There is a steady increase in reported cases. All regions show increases in cases reported, the highest being central, western, northern then eastern. Kampala, Kabale, Arua, Gulu, Wakiso reported most cases. Higher numbers among males might be because of a higher genetic risk for disorders. Men are more likely to exhibit risk factors of disorders such as impulsivity making diagnosis simpler. Additionally, biological and social consequences among women may be deterrents to alcohol use. Increasing numbers of cases might be because of social acceptability of alcohol and aggressive advertising. Current legislation limiting alcohol use covers only manufacture and sale, is weak and poorly enforced. High numbers in central region might be due to higher numbers of health centers and population density. Actual numbers are likely to be higher as people with alcohol abuse rarely seek for help. Findings are subject to epidemiological weaknesses: healthcare access bias, referral filter bias, mis classification bias.Conclusion: there is urgent need to address the increasing problem of alcohol abuse especially in central region. The national alcohol control policy should be completed and passed to address issues such as alcohol advertising, taxation and sale of alcohol to minors to limit access. Interventions to address alcohol abuse should be gender specific

The impact of an emergency hiring plan on the shortage and distribution of nurses in Kenya: the importance of information systems

Objective:To analyse the effect of Kenya's Emergency Hiring Plan for nurses on their inequitable distribution in rural and underserved areas.Methods We used data from the Kenya Health Workforce Informatics System on the nursing workforce to determine the effect of the Emergency Hiring Plan on nurse shortages and maldistribution. The total number of nurses; the number of nurses per 100 000 population and the opening of previously closed or new heath facilities were recorded. Findings Of the 18 181 nurses employed in Kenya's public sector in 2009; 1836 (10) had been recruited since 2005 through the Emergency Hiring Plan. Nursing staff increased by 7in hospitals; 13in health centres and 15in dispensaries. North Eastern province; which includes some of the most remote areas; benefited most: the number of nurses per 100 000 population increased by 37. The next greatest increase was in Nyanza province; which has the highest prevalence of HIV infection in Kenya. Emergency Hiring Plan nurses enabled the number of functioning public health facilities to increase by 29. By February 2010; 94 of the nurses hired under pre-recruitment absorption agreements had entered the civil service.Conclusion The Emergency Hiring Plan for nurses significantly increased health services in Kenya's rural and underserved areas over the short term. Preliminary indicators of sustainability are promising; as most nurses hired are now civil servants. However; continued monitoring will be necessary over the long term to evaluate future nurse retention. The accurate workforce data provided by the Kenya Health Workforce Informatics System were essential for evaluating the effect of the Emergency Hiring Plan

The Reliability and Usability of District Health Information Software : Case Studies from Tanzania

The District Health Information System (DHIS) software from the Health Information System Programme (HISP) based in South Africa is widely implemented in many developing countries as a health data analysis tool. Through the HISP Tanzania project; the DHIS was piloted in five districts in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to qualify and quantify the extent to which district health workers consider the adaptation of the DHIS software to the needs of the routine health management information system. In a period of 14 months (from June 2003 to August 2004) data were collected from health workers trained to use the software through a triangulation of various qualitative data collection techniques including interview; questionnaire; participant observations and retrospective testing. The software was evaluated in terms of reliability; usability and user satisfaction. In general the reliability of the software was rated high but its usability was rated to be low. The software was found not to accommodate some health data from various health programmes and there was a mismatch between the implemented online data entry forms/reports and their respective paper-based forms/reports. The study recommends improved design of the DHIS user interface (forms) and reports to replicate the paper-based forms in order to assure usability and reduce the incidences and impact of human errors in the keying-in of health data

Working Conditions; Work Life and Quality of Life of the Temporary Support Staff Involved with Telematic Learning

Transformation in the South African higher educational system compelled residential universities to introduce alternative education such as distance education (Department of Education; 1997:66-67). The university in this study also took this route and started offering Telematic Learning through a programme known as Telematic LearningSystems (TLS). Telematic learning refers to education offered through contact sessions presented over distance. It thus provides more intense contact than the traditional distance educational model. A consequence was that the university's academic administrative system and workload expanded; and mainly temporary support staff was employedto carry this burden. The workload for the telematic nursing programme was extensive; the remuneration package was poor with little benefits and working conditions were not pleasant; which caused frustrations and which affected the quality of life of the temporary support staff. The goal of this research was to explore and describe the experiences and expectations of the temporary support staff with regard to their working conditions; work life and quality of life by means of a qualitative; descriptive research design. A purposive sample according to set criteria was used for the selection of participants as identified by mediators. Data collection was done through a phenomenologicalmethod of unstructured in-depth interviews. Content descriptive analysis; as described by Tesch (in Creswell; 1994:153-159) was used to analyse data through open coding. Five major categories resulted: experiences of the organisational structure; work life; interpersonal relationships; occupational development and quality of life while working at TLS. Conclusions were that staff experienced working conditions mainly as unpleasant; but that they adapted because of the team spirit. Relationships are good amongst staff; but strained with management and training is needed. These factors resulted in frustration; in a feeling that life is without real meaning and in problems with a future vision. Guidelines were formulated for the facilitation of quality working conditions; work life and quality of life of the temporary support staff; as well as for encouraging management to take note of certain focus points

HMIS: Is it Tailored to Monitoring the Health Sector Strategic Plan?

Modern public health practice requires good and reliable information systems. The functions of the systems include rapid reporting of notifiable diseases; dissemination of information; outbreak investigation; provision of information on magnitude of health events; monitoring risk factors and disease trends. These constitute most of the public surveillance systems (PHS). PHS systems are an extension of the principles and technicques of disease surveillance (Langmuir 1963). They consist of on-going collection; analysis; interpretation or outcome-specific public health data; so as to plan; set targets and evaluate healh programs and interventions (Thacker and Berkelman; 1989). However; modern public health practice also involves collection of information on distribution of resources; utilisation of logistics and finances as well as one time studies to answer specific public health questions. These are the domains of public health and they may lack some critical elements of public surveillance systems. For instance; they may not focus on specific outcomes; and may not be on going (e.g. a one time very informative study/survey). World-wide; information systems have been transformed into an important element in the process of decision making for all sectors. Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) are basic elements for the management process of public health activities. However; for HMIS to function fully there is need to integrate data from different sources. Secondly; data should be analysed and interpretted so that recommendations are made to improve the performance of health services. An important principle of the HMIS is that information must be transformed into actions at all levels. It therefore requires adequate capacity for collection; analysis; interpretation and use of the information that the system generates. The techniques of information collection; storage; recovery and dissemination could be paper based or computer based. However; whichever system is in operation; information management systems are required at all stages of the planning cycle; and action must be the main goal

The broad picture: Health status and determinants

This article demonstrates South Africa's need of a much improved National Health Information System. It is of the utmost importance to establish this in order to monitor the impact of policy changes in South Africa. The system also needs to be able to monitor inequalities in health - not only on the basis of race but also on the basis of poverty and urban/rural differences. The broad picture; however; reveals numerous health problems. While attempts to extend basic primary care to all who need it will be particularly important; a more comprehensive approach including more preventive and health initiatives is still needed

Health information systems

This article focuses on describing development in the area of health information systems at provincial and district level. It is noted that not enough progress was made for over one year and tremendous challenges lie ahead in the development of an effective health information system in South Africa

Determination des zones a risque de trypanosomiase humaine; application au controle et a la lutte pour une valorisation des acquis scientifiques

Depuis des annees; on a demontre que le piegeage est la seule technique utilisable pour la lutte contre les glossines; en utilisant la force de travail des communautes rurales; sous la supervision d'une equipe restreinte. Mais malgre les efforts des entomologistes pour reduire les couts de la lutte antivectorielle; ceux-ci sont difficilement supportables pour des etats africains concernes par la trypanosomiase humaine africaine. Ce travail de lutte serait certainement efficace s'il etait base sur un systeme d'information geographique et la teledetection. Ces derniers permettent en effet de caracteriser precisement les principaux foyers endemiques; d'extrapoler les resultats a l'ensemble d'une zone biogeographique et de prevoir la localisation des futures zones a risques

Health Information System: Morbidity and Mortality Statistics; 1993

"Throughout 1993; morbidity statistics were received from 33 out of 39 districts and mortality statistics were received from only 30 out of 97 hospitals. Although these figures indicate a slight improvement in the response to reporting as compared to that of 1992; the response is still very low. Besides; a lot of data was characterised by gaps and incompleteness with only 60of the units reporting regularly throughout the year. Despite the high coverage in the training of the districts and health unit staffs; little importance has therefore been attached to the use of the data at most levels of health care delivery in planning and managing the health services. Against this dismissal situation; the Health Planning Unit has embarked on an exercise to receive the current Health Information System including other possible health information with a view to integrating them into one Health MIS by integrating the total number of forms and expanding the role of HIS from a meer ""disease surveillance"" to collection of entire health care information and ensuring this information is put to proper use while planning and managing helath services at all levels of health care service delivery."

Ameliorer les prestations de sante primaire en zone urbaine : rationaliser l'information sanitaire en zone urbaine : l'exemple des centres de sante de Brazzaville

La necessite de disposer d'informations sanitaires fiaibles a conduit le projet appui aux centres de sante de Brazzaville du FAC a mettre en place un nouveau systeme d'information sanitaire dans les centres de sante. L'accent a ete mis sur la simplication du recueil; la performance des indicateurs utilises; et la fiabilite des donnees. Au niveau du centre un guide d'interpretation permet une auto-evaluation et la mise en evidence des disfonctionnements; en relation avec les equipes de supervision. Ce systeme a ete elabore avec l'ensemble des acteurs. Il reste evolutif et ouvert a l'integration de grands programmes

Information et politiques de sante

Tout plan de sante englobant tous les services destines a ameliorer ou a sauvegarder l'etat de sante des individus et de la collectivite devrait reserver une place de choix a l'information. En effet; l'information est indispensable dans l'elaboration des politiques de sante en ce sens qu'elle permet d'identifier les problemes; les besoins et les moyens disponibles. Elle favorisera en fin de compte une bonne definition des priorites et de la strategie globale se traduisant par un certain nombre d'objectifs

An assessment of the degree of utilization and knowledge of health information among health workers in Matabeleland north province in Zimbabwe

The study examines the knowledge and extent of utilization of health information by health workers in the province of Matebeleland North in Zimbabwe. The respondents consisted of Rural Health Care staff and their immediate supervisors at District level. Observations on the use of health information were also made. The study reveals that a large minority of RHC wokers (42 percent) understand what health information is. Only half of those interviewed were able to calculate a simple percentage. The level of education of the health workers is shown to play a central role in determining their arithmetic skills and ability to understand health information

Health service priorities in a developing country: biomedical and health information support in Zimbabwe

The Ministry of Health has reallocated available resources to bring more primary health care services to rural areas and to upgrade provincial; general and district hospitals; and more recently; has begun to improve its library services. Two 1984 surveys of the information needs and resources of health professionals showed serious information deficiencies in the general and district hospitals outside the capital; while staff and students in the country's one medical school in Harare were relatively well supplied. In 1983; U.Z.M.L. was designated National Focal Point (NFP) for Health Sciences Information Services. In response to its new reponsibilities as NFP and to the findings of the surveys; and in support of the Ministry of Health's drive to improve health services to its largely rural population; the Medical Library sought to redress the imbalance by improving the supply of information to health workers outside the capital. Steps taken by the NFP and the Ministry to achieve this included the appointment of an Outreach Librarian; the provision of core collections of books and primary health care manuals to peripheral hospital; a training program for library clerks; the establishment of national core journal collection; and the circulation of a digest/update of locally-relevant MEDLINE citations and abstracts to health professionals country-wide. Efforts to provide computerised literature searches and databases; both from MEDLINE on CD-ROM and from locally-generated sources; are also described

Better information; better care and management

Information processes have become such a vital part of health care services' management that their development must be encouraged at all costs. It is also vital for the health services manager to be entirely honest with all the people that one manages including patients/clients about the progress being made within the health care systems including the problems being encountered and the major constraints that make us fail to meet our projected plans and target dates. Individual staff members may also find it difficult to face up to the reality of their own attitudes towards new information processes and towards information technology

Information back-up for Zimbabwe's healthworkers : application of microcomputers and laser disc technologies

This paper outlines attempts being made to counter long standing deficiencies and information back-up for Zimbabwe's health workers; and the present and potential contribution of micro-computers and optical disc technology to theseefforts. It analyses in detail the following: survery of health information needs and resources; core collections of books and journals; MEDLINE on CD-ROM; literature searches and evaluation of the service

Reference Tables ... Health Information System

Contains statistical information for the year. Data is presented in the form of tables by either tabulation refion and/or district or by age