Health Information Management Infrastructure, Resources and Record Management Processes in Tertiary Hospitals in Bayelsa State

Abstract

Background: Health Information Management (HIM) infrastructure, resources and record management processes are the building blocks for the creation, storage, retrieval and utilization of health information for healthcare decision making. Lack of infrastructure and information management processes could affect the availability and usefulness of the information needed by healthcare professionals. The association between HIM infrastructure, healthcare record management process and health care decision making was the focus of this study in the tertiary hospitals of Bayelsa State. The study design used was cross sectional survey. The study population were healthcare professionals in tertiary hospitals in Bayelsa State and three hundred and seven (307) of them were selected. A structured questionnaire with 4-point Likert scale was used for data collection. The data obtained were summarized using descriptive statistics which are in the form of frequency, percentage and mean, and the hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The findings revealed that the infrastructure and resources for HIM were rated at moderate level (cluster mean = 2.47). Lack of funding for HIM activities (M = 2.30), trained HIM personnel (M = 2.34), electricity supply (M = 2.36), physical record-storage facilities (M = 2.39) and technical/IT support (M = 2.42) were noted as major deficiencies. Decisions made were moderately supported by access to health information, especially by evidence-based professional decisions (M = 2.61) and patient-management decisions (M = 2.59). Record management processes were generally rated low with the grand mean of 2.41, especially record retrieval, updating and timely availability. There was a significant positive association between the decision making and HIM infrastructure and resources (r = 0.540, p < 0.001) according to Pearson correlation. Another significant positive relationship was established between the decision quality and timeliness and record management processes (r = 0.610, p<0.001). The study found that while the HIM infrastructure and resources were moderately available, significant gaps existed, and that HIM record management procedures were generally weak. However, the improvements of HIM infrastructure, resources and record management were significantly correlated with better healthcare decision making. The tertiary hospital is expected to have strong HIM infrastructure, sustainable funding, adequate HIM staffing and training, improved electricity and technical support, improved procedures for record management, expanded and maintained EHI systems, and to encourage regular usage of quality health information for clinical, administrative and managerial decisions. impacts decision making