This study investigated the application of ICTs in health information management by medical professionals in six selected government hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon. The basis of the study was that through the effective application of ICTs in health information management, relevant and timely information would be made available to medical professionals.
THE WAY INFORMATION IS MANAGED IN THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH FACILITIES 44
IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF HEALTH INFORMATION TO ENHANCE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY 48
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF CHARTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
- THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
- OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
- JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY
- Medical education and research
- Health information portal
- GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY
- SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
- The scope of the study
- Limitations of the study
- OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS
- Data
- Information
- ORGANISATION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE THESIS
- SUMMARY OF CHAPTER ONE
Based on general observations and the existing literature, it can be argued that the poor performance of the medical professionals in Cameroon can be attributed to the poor management of health information in the hospitals and. The importance of the study is based on the need to emphasize the importance of information to doctors and nurses and the need to use ICT in the management of information in hospitals and clinics.
CHAPTER TWO
COUNTRY PROFILE
Educationally, Cameroon is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a high literacy rate. The country has two education systems, namely a French-language system and an Anglo-Saxon system, which reflects the bilingual nature of the country.
INFORMATION SERVICES/INFRASTRUCTURE
- Information Sector
The Ministry of Culture controls the activities of the National Library, while a Director heads the library. After examining the library and information sector, the next section looks at the shortcomings of the sector.
TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTERNET SERVICES
It was set up in Cameroon in October 1994 with the help of the Center for Health Technology (CHT). The management of the Internet network is done by CAMTEL, via its fixed telephone services.
HEALTH SECTOR
- Organisation of the health care system
In the health sector, the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms is recruiting civil service workers. This service is not operational, although it is mentioned in the hierarchical structure of the health sector.
THE WAY INFORMATION IS MANAGED IN THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH FACILITIES
This is partly due to a lack of commitment from the central government to provide additional funding for the maintenance of hardware and software equipment, as the hardware was outdated.
SUMMARY
CHAPTER THREE
INFORMATION AS A RESOURCE
This is because information is not an end in itself, but a means to better decisions in the delivery of health care. Instead, it was made by a group of health management practitioners in the NHS (National Health Service) of the United Kingdom. The individuals, according to Eaton and Bawden, are decision makers such as medical professionals, who are the potential users of health information in the health sector.
It will also ensure that information is disseminated and exchanged effectively from all service points in the hospital.
IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF HEALTH INFORMATION TO ENHANCE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
First, information processing is an essential aspect of human behavior, so much so that information in its entire guise is a crucial input to the decision-making process. In this case, information management, including access and provision of information, is an essential function to improve access to relevant information. Another important value of information is its contribution to social and economic development and self-reliance.
The essence of information is that it must be accessible to the user in a timely manner.
HEALTH INFORMATION SOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
Therefore examination of the types of health information available to medical professionals is necessary. Another study that shows the influence of specialization on the use of information resources is that of Stinson and Muller (1980:143). However, the preference for different sources of health information by medical professionals is of interest in providing information.
In the absence of a needs assessment study, this preference could be considered as a basis for providing information to nurses and doctors (Stinson and Muller 1980).
THE EMERGENCE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
One of the main obstacles that hinders the processing and analysis of health information is the lack of adequate tools such as computers. Important is the way in which health information can be communicated and disseminated effectively. Effective use of ICT can improve the flow of health information by: health research, the formulation of health programs, to support decision-making and to advance health services.
It also discusses some pioneering ICT initiatives in Africa, focusing on projects or initiatives dealing with health information management.
THE USE OF leTs TO MANAGE HEALTH INFORMATION
Wilson emphasized that the use of computers is one of the most promising ways to improve the quality, timeliness, clarity, presentation and use of information for healthcare management. Founded in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee, the WWW has become one of the most popular facilities on the Internet. This feature of the Web links documents to hypertextuality (text documents with links to other documents) and hypermedia (multimedia documents with links to other documents).
One of the best-known examples of SBIGs is the Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG).
INITIATIVES TO DISSEMINATE ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION IN AFRICA
- CD·ROM Technology
With CD-ROM, users are not connected to the Internet or using a telephone connection. Unlike using the telephone to access information over the Internet, using the CD-ROM all the user needs is a computer with approximately eight megabytes of RAM, 10 megabytes of hard drive space, Windows 3.1 or higher, and a CD-ROM player. The technology also encourages multiple access (Kale 1994; Akbar 2002).
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE ABOVE INITIATIVES AND TECHNOLOGIES
- Dominance
- Lack of information retrieval skills
Although physicians were eager to update their knowledge, they were reluctant to use the services. It was realized that the doctors were concerned about publicly displaying their lack of knowledge. That is, they feared that their reputation would be damaged if they learned to work on a computer in a public telecenter.
INTERNET FACILITIES AS A TOOL FOR HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
- Factors that inhibit the application and utilisation of leTs in Africa
Non-use of the Internet can be attributed, among other things, to information anarchy and the anatomy of addiction (Zulu 1994:80). Each member contributes to the cost and each accepts ownership of the outcome (Ballantyne and Addison 2000: 15). That is, the governments of most developing countries feel threatened by the foreign content or origin of information that exists on the Internet.
Thus, restrictions on the use and accessibility of the Internet, as well as censorship of information published and distributed via the Internet, are still common practices in some developing countries (Fors and Moreno 2001).
SUMMARY
The development with 90 countries revealed that the factors that made the biggest differences in the diffusion and use of ICT were management and organizational reforms. Lack of information policies can be attributed, among other things, to the Western dominance of information on the Internet. In the literature on ICT, it is realized that there is a lack of indigenous information.
Godlee, Horton, and Smith (2000) further explained that the world's health problems are concentrated in the developing world and that those living with these problems have more to offer each other than those who view them from the comfort of London or Geneva. .
CHAPTER FOUR
- RESEARCH DESIGN
- Data collection instrument
- POPULATION OF THE STUDY
- Sampling of government Hospitals
- PRE·TESTING OF THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
- DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE
- Distribution and collection of questionnaires
- RESPONSE RATE
- DATA ANALYSIS
- Coding of Data
- Evaluation of the data collection instrument
- SUMMARY
Including the length of the questionnaire and the time pressure of the respondents. The time of the study was when medical students were interning in the government hospitals in Yaounde. The questionnaire was appropriately adapted and definitions of ICT terminology were included (Part V of the questionnaire).
Powell (1985:40) states that when these aspects are taken into account during the construction of the measuring instrument (as was done in the present study), the validity (and reliability) of the instrument is increased.
CHAPTER FIVE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- HEALTH INFORMATION SOURCES
- Usage of health sources and frequencies
- INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
- Methods used to capture and the format in which health information is stored
- Interpretation and Discussion
- ICT EQUIPMENT AND USAGE
- Purpose of using a computer
Furthermore, the way health information is disseminated and/or exchanged in the government hospitals surveyed is summarized in the following quote from one of the nurses. Osiobe also confirmed this observation in a study on the use of information sources by medical faculty in Nigeria. The permanence of publishing local journals and magazines has been a major drawback in the dissemination of information.
From discussion with the directors of the hospitals interviewed, no in-service training on the use of computers is offered to medical professionals.
Rating the usefulness of computers to support daily activities
- Interpretation and Discussion
- INTERNET SERVICES AND FACILITIES
- Computers connected to the Internet
- INTERNET TRAINING
- Interpretation and Discussion
- SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS
The existing Internet resources and facilities and the knowledge of health professionals about the Internet were checked. The main factors hindering the use of Internet services are the lack of skills and training and the lack of information support services. Among the obstacles hindering the use of Internet services, the respondents cited a lack of skills and training.
It is used to increase knowledge and awareness about the use of the Internet.
CHAPTER SIX
- SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
- CONCLUSIONS
- The state of information and information management
- The level of ICT use
- The level of ICT education and training
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- Creation of an information clearing-house
- Information policy
- Organise regular interdepartmental meetings for medical staff
- Increase and improve local communication outlets to medical professionals
- SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
The above were among the most important recommendations from the respondents to improve the use of ICT in the management of health information in the surveyed hospitals. This study has shown the nature of one of the major problems faced by doctors in six public hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon, namely access to information and the use of ICT in the management of health information. Considering the results obtained, it may be sufficient to conclude that the use of ICT by medical professionals in the management of health information in public hospitals in Yaounde is poor.
It follows from 6.2.2 above that there is an urgent need to provide ICT training for health workers in the surveyed hospitals.
A study of the actual and potential use of information and communication technology at district and provincial levels in Mozambique with a focus on the health sector. Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC. Exploratory study of information needs in the Kwa-Ngwanase (Natal) and Qumbu (Transkei) communities of South Africa. South Africa Journal of Library and Information Science. Information systems for national development --- the social relevance of information systems.International Forum on Information and Documentation 5(4): 3-8 .
A study of the use of information sources by medical library faculty staff in Nigeria Universities.Journal of Information Science12: 177-183.
APPENDICES
- QUESTIONNAIRE IN FRENCH
- LETTER OF INTRODUCTION FROM THE SUPERVISOR
- AUTHORISATION LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- LETTRE D'INTRODUCTION DU CHERCHEUR
A questionnaire on the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the management of health information in public hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon. From the list of health information sources below, indicate how often you use them in your daily life. The subject of her thesis is «Application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the management of health information in public hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Re: Research on the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by medical doctors and nurses in government hospitals in Yaounde for health information management in Cameroon.
