Improving data completeness, consistency, report timeliness and information utilization in Metema Primar

Abstract

Abstract Background: Effective Health Management Information System (HMIS) is essential for setting priority for community-based problems, for allocation of budget and human resource and evidence-based decision making in general to managers and stakeholders. Objective: Improving data completeness, consistency, report timeliness and information utilization in Metema Primary Hospital by the end 2018. Methods: Facility based pre–post interventional study design was conducted at Metema Primary Hospital from January1st 2016 to December30/2018. A total of 384 individual patients’ medical records, HMIS registration books and reports were used. Training, conducting regular supportive supervision and feedback provision were intervention strategies. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test was used and pvalue of less than 0.05 used as statistical significant.

Stratified sampling method through proportional allocation was used across strata and Systematic sampling method was used to select study subjects with in each stratum for data collection. Result: Completeness of data recording tools improved from 69 % to 96 %, consistency also improved from 84 % to 99.5 % and report timeliness was improved from 66% to 100 %. Information utilization at department level in terms of performance monitoring was improved from 28 % to 100 % and action plan also improved from 22 % to 89 % at department level and 67 % to 100% at Hospital level. There was statistical significance difference between pre and post intervention results with mean difference of -0.24623 (-0.41153, -0.08093) with p-value of (p = 0.005) for data recording completeness. Conclusion and Recommendation: lack of HMIs training, low rate of supportive supervision and feedback were the identified root causes. Data quality and information utilization was improved.