Health information literacy and health informatics: imperatives for medical librarians and healthcare practitioners

Health informatics,also known as healthcare informatics or biomedical informatics, is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the scientific study and practice of managing health data. In this paper authors have conceptualized health information literacyand health informatics. Discourses include: the role of medical libraries and medical librarians, Electronic Health Systems including Health Information Systems, Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Also, Medical Data Management, its benefits and challenges were also highlighted. Health information literature is also reviewed. The authors concluded by reiterating the importance of health information literacy, health informatics and its technological applications and the need for librarians and medical practitioners in the healthcare environments to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and technologies that could enhance health information services delivery on the part of the librarians and healthcare services delivery on the part of the health practitioners

The African digital health library and digitization of health information in Zambia: process, challenges and achievements

The rapid growth of Internet and increasing interest in its usage has led to an acceleration of digitisation of printed documents and making available born digital documents online. Zambia's research output is primarily in print and not much is disseminated globally. It is against this background that innovations for digital libraries have been started in several African countries, including Zambia. The overall objective of the African Digital Health Library Zambia was to increase the health content that is held in the University of Zambia Institutional Repository by digitising publications produced by various institutions in Zambia, with a vision of capturing over 6,000 current and historical materials. Equipment was acquired and sensitisation meetings were held with various stake holders to ensure successful project initiation and sustainability. Scanning and uploading of documents was done after a technical expert had trained both Library and Information Technology staff on Dspace software. Marketing the digital library within the institutions and nationally was also conducted. In June 2018 there were 266,838 downloads of materials. Challenges of collecting required materials from relevant stake holders and convincing them to make available their content were encountered in the process. Enhanced collaboration and sensitisation of stakeholders were essential in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.

Design and implementation of a clinical laboratory information system in a low-resource setting

Background: Reducing laboratory errors presents a significant opportunity for both cost reduction and healthcare quality improvement. This is particularly true in low-resource settings where laboratory errors are further exacerbated by poor infrastructure and shortages in a trained workforce. Informatics interventions can be used to address some of the sources of laboratory errors.Objectives: This article describes the development process for a clinical laboratory information system (LIS) that leverages informatics interventions to address problems in the laboratory testing process at a hospital in a low-resource setting.Methods: We designed interventions using informatics methods for previously identified problems in the laboratory testing process at a clinical laboratory in a low-resource setting. First, we reviewed a pre-existing LIS functionality assessment toolkit and consulted with laboratory personnel. This provided requirements that were developed into a LIS with interventions designed to address the problems that had been identified. We piloted the LIS at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi.Results: We implemented a series of informatics interventions in the form of a LIS to address sources of laboratory errors and support the entire laboratory testing process. Custom hardware was built to support the ordering of laboratory tests and review of laboratory test results.Conclusion: Our experience highlights the potential of using informatics interventions to address systemic problems in the laboratory testing process in low-resource settings. Implementing these interventions may require innovation of new hardware to address various contextual issues. We strongly encourage thorough testing of such innovations to reduce the risk of failure when implemented

Health information sources awareness, use and service delivery of resident doctors in babcock university teaching hospital, Ogun state

The study investigated the relationship between health information source awareness, use and service delivery of resident doctors in Babcock University Teaching Hospital. The study adopted descriptive research design. Out of the 60 copies of questionnaire administered to all the resident doctors, 52 (87%) were returned and used for the study. The data were analyzed using percentages, mean and Pearson Product Method correlation. The findings revealed there is no significant relationship between health information use and service delivery (r = 452, p < .05). The findings also revealed that the major health information sources consulted in Babcock University Teaching Hospital by resident doctors were medical textbooks, internet and personal collections. The major challenges facing resident doctors in Babcock University Teaching Hospital were non-availability of relevant information, inadequate information retrieval skills, lack of accessibility of sources. The study concluded that there is a need to provide more relevant materials and enhance the internet service in order to improve the quality of service delivery of resident doctors. Key words: health information sources use, awareness, service delivery, resident doctors.

Status and development of clinical informatics in Nigeria's health care sector

This paper examines the status and development of clinical informatics in the Nigerian health care sector, highlighting the efforts to promote access to and the use of clinical informatics in Nigeria's health care sector. In a recent survey of major international research databases such as Scopus, it was observed that there is a gap in knowledge on clinical informatics in the country healthcare facilities in Nigeria due to a paucity of literature on clinical informatics. Through a literature review, the paper provides a conceptual background of clinical informatics, discusses the status of clinical informatics in Nigeria, and highlights ICT access and use in the healthcare sectors. It also examines the challenges and opportunities of clinical informatics in Nigeria. The last part of the paper discusses the implications of the reviewed literature through a PEST analysis. The paper provides invaluable information on clinical informatics in Nigeria that can be used to inform and support further studies in this growing field. The paper is a contribution to discussions and debates on the development of social informatics. Keywords: Social informatics, clinical informatics.

Experiences of Registered Nurses with Regard to Accessing Health Information at the Point-of-Care via Mobile Computing Devices

Background: The volume of health information necessary to provide competent health care today has become overwhelming. Mobile computing devices are fast becoming an essential clinical tool for accessing health information at the point-of-care of patients.Objectives: This study explored and described how registered nurses experienced accessing information at the point-of-care via mobile computing devices (MCDs).Method: A qualitative; exploratory; descriptive and contextual design was used. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted with purposively sampled registered nurses employed by a state hospital in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). Interviews were recorded; transcribed verbatim and analysed using Tesch's data analysis technique. Ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guba's model of trustworthiness was used to confirm integrity of the study. Results: Four themes emerged which revealed that the registered nurses benefited from the training they received by enabling them to develop; and improve; their computer literacy levels. Emphasis was placed on the benefits that the accessed information had for educational purposes for patients and the public; for colleagues and students. Furthermore the ability to access information at the point-of-care was considered by registered nurses as valuable to improve patient care because of the wide range of accurate and readily accessible information available via the mobile computing device. Conclusion: The registered nurses in this study felt that being able to access information at the point-of-care increased their confidence and facilitated the provision of quality care because it assisted them in being accurate and sure of what they were doing