Accelerating implementation of district health information systems: perspectives from healthcare workers from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
S. Afr. J. Inf. Manag.
;
23(1): 1-8, 2021. tables
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1532487
ABSTRACT
Background:
Although electronic health record systems are critical for healthcare management, there has been genuine concern about the quantity and quality of data generated by these systems inhibiting its full implementation.Objectives:
The purpose of this article was to explore the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) and challenges facing the acceleration of the District Health Information System (DHIS) in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa.Methods:
In this study, an interpretive research paradigm was followed to explore the current state of electronic health in South Africa from the experiences of HCWs in the KZN province. Semi-structured focus group interviews conducted with 20 participants drawn from the district office, clinical nurse practitioners and data capturers allowed thematic analysis of data using a systems approach to link the perspectives HCWs to the design of the DHIS.Results:
The participants held the view that e-health is crucial for monitoring disease trends, policy development, planning and allocation of infrastructure, information technology (IT), financial and human resources. Nevertheless, the participants highlighted a concern surrounding e-health regulations, ethics and data confidentiality; data quality and lack of interoperability of Health Information Systems (HIS). This concern was attributed to data fragmentation, internal politics and lack of coordination of the data system.Conclusions:
The study suggests that good quality data from an integrated DHIS, is highly critical for the effective utilisation, implementation and acceleration of e-health systems in the province to support epidemiological surveillance and modelling of outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Health Information Systems
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. J. Inf. Manag.
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa/ZA
/
Enterprise Development Unit, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa/ZA
/
Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa/ZA
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