Healthcare Providers' Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention and Control Practices in Health Records and Information Management, Ghana.

Background: The impact of contracting coronavirus on healthcare providers (HCPs) affects their ability to combat the infection. The virus can be transmitted through droplets from sneezing, coughing, and yelling, making it essential for HCPs to plan ahead when dealing with patients with respiratory symptoms. The need to assess healthcare providers' perceived adherence to COVID-19 Prevention and Control Practices (PCP) in Health Records and Information Management is vital for optimizing healthcare operations and ensuring the safety of both patients and providers. This study assesses healthcare providers' perceived adherence to COVID-19 PCP in Health Records and Information Management. Subjects and Method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from 1268 HCPs working in eight randomly selected hospitals across five regions in Ghana. The survey was carried out from May 15, 2022, to August 13, 2022. Simple random sampling was used to choose these eight facilities from a total of 204 hospitals. Within each facility, HCPs from various departments were selected using simple random sampling. The EpiInfo 7 software's StatCalc tool was used to choose a total sample size of 1268 from an estimated 4482 HCP-PR from the eight hospitals. Compliance with COVID-19 PCP was assessed using a 3-point scale, ranging from one (Yes always) to three (No). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to examine the statistical reliability of the variables in the dataset. Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 overall, suggesting strong reliability. Bartlett's test for equal variances was used for comparative analysis of health facility and overall mean COVID-19 PCP in different areas of health facilities. IBM SPSS (version 23) statistical software was used for the data analysis process. Results: A total of 1268 HCP-PR participated in the survey, resulting in a 99.6% response rate. Findings reveal that 760 healthcare professionals who handle patients' records (HCP-PR), constituting 60%, consistently followed COVID-19 protocols in the registration and clinic preparation zones. Another 390 individuals (30.7%) adhered to these protocols occasionally, while 119 (9.4%) failed to comply. Similarly, in the filing area, 739 respondents (58.3%) consistently adhered to COVID-19 protocols, 358 (28.3%) occasionally did so, and 170 (13.4%) did not follow the protocols at all. Regarding handling health records cautiously, 540 participants (42.5%) always did, 448 (35.3%) did so sometimes, and 280 (22.2%) neglected these precautions. Additionally, 520 respondents (41.0%) consistently followed COVID-19 precautions when handling computers and other equipment, 393 (31.0%) did so occasionally, and 355 (28.0%) did not adhere to these precautions. Conclusion: The majority of respondents showed good compliance with COVID-19 protocol in the registration and clinic preparation areas. However, in the filing area, just over four out of every seven respondents consistently adhered to COVID-19 PCP. Additionally, four out of every seven participants did not comply with COVID-19 PCP when handling patients' records. Analysis reveals diverse adherence to COVID-19 PCP, and statistical tests show variable performance, highlighting standout health facilities.

Healthcare providers' perception towards utilization of health information applications and its associated factors in healthcare delivery in health facilities in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technology (ICT) has significantly advanced global healthcare, with electronic health (e-Health) applications improving health records and delivery. These innovations, including electronic health records, strengthen healthcare systems. The study investigates healthcare professionals' perceptions of health information applications and their associated factors in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana's health facilities. METHODS: We used a descriptive cross-sectional study design to collect data from 632 healthcare professionals (HCPs), in the three purposively selected health facilities in the Cape Coast municipality of Ghana, in July 2022. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of dependent variables. Descriptive statistics were used to report means with corresponding standard deviations for continuous variables. Proportions were also reported for categorical variables. Bivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors influencing the Benefits of Information Technology (BoIT); Barriers to Information Technology Use (BITU); and Motives of Information Technology Use (MoITU) in healthcare delivery. Stata SE version 15 was used for the analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 served as the basis for considering a statistically significant accepting hypothesis. RESULTS: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) generally perceived moderate benefits (Mean score (M) = 5.67) from information technology (IT) in healthcare. However, they slightly agreed that barriers like insufficient computers (M = 5.11), frequent system downtime (M = 5.09), low system performance (M = 5.04), and inadequate staff training (M = 4.88) hindered IT utilization. Respondents slightly agreed that training (M = 5.56), technical support (M = 5.46), and changes in work procedures (M = 5.10) motivated their IT use. Bivariate regression analysis revealed significant influences of education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training on attitudes towards IT utilization in healthcare delivery (BoIT, BITU, and MoITU). Additionally, the age of healthcare providers, education, and working experience significantly influenced BITU. Ultimately, age, education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training significantly influenced MoITU in healthcare delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals acknowledge moderate benefits of IT in healthcare but encounter barriers like inadequate resources and training. Motives for IT use include staff training and support. Bivariate regression analysis shows education, working experience, profession, and IT training significantly influence attitudes towards IT adoption. Targeted interventions and policies can enhance IT utilization in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.