Factors influencing reports on anti-retroviral therapy sites at Amathole health district
- Authors: Roboji, Zukiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Health services administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Medical records -- Access control , Hospital care -- South Africa -- Data processing , Medical care -- South Africa -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8501 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020607
- Description: The study sought to investigate the factors influencing the contents of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reports in the Amathole Health District of the Eastern Cape Province. A qualitative and quantitative study was conducted to assess the challenges that inhibit this phenomenon. Structurally, the population consists of Amahlati and Nkonkobe sub-districts. Operational managers, information officers, professional nurses, data capturers, and administration clerks were randomly selected from sixteen facilities. Data collection was done on semi-structured interviews, questionnaires; observations were done using the probability sampling method, and the findings were analysed according to the same technique. The study revealed that the District Health Information System (DHIS) is the universal data management and reporting system which all healthcare and ART facilities are using to manage ART. However, regardless of all these universal arrangements such as the use of the DHIS to aid in reporting, the contents of ART reports from various facilities have not been uniform due to various factors. There is a lack of a reliable network to link DHIS computers across facilities. The shift from paper-based to electronic data management has caused the difficulties in the collating and management of ART data since some facilities are manual paper- based while others are automated using the modern DHIS. Lack of daily capturing and validation is a major challenge across the ART facilities. Further, there are Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) such as AFRICARE and the IYDSA that have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the district to provide a budgetary support for staff training in data management of ART reports in the district. While the NGOs keep on assisting the ART facilities with data management, there is a lack of skills transfer. The district could not account on follow-up of ART patients from one facility to another. This is increasing the number of defaulting in ART patients, thus there is no accurate figures on retention of patients in ART Programme. The officials from ART sites tend to use their own transport to carry data from facilities to the district offices and this resulted in late submission of reports. The study thus recommends that, inter alia, data management and trainings should be done to improve data quality in reporting, a reliable computer network be installed, backed-up and maintained for data and report management in the all healthcare facilities. All the ART sites should adopt and use the automated data management system for universality and eliminating the faults of manual paper data management and reporting. This would ensure that the contents of ART reports are uniform and a true reflection of the situation on the ground towards universal access to ART and healthcare in the Amathole Health District, and South Africa at large.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Roboji, Zukiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Health services administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Medical records -- Access control , Hospital care -- South Africa -- Data processing , Medical care -- South Africa -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8501 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020607
- Description: The study sought to investigate the factors influencing the contents of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reports in the Amathole Health District of the Eastern Cape Province. A qualitative and quantitative study was conducted to assess the challenges that inhibit this phenomenon. Structurally, the population consists of Amahlati and Nkonkobe sub-districts. Operational managers, information officers, professional nurses, data capturers, and administration clerks were randomly selected from sixteen facilities. Data collection was done on semi-structured interviews, questionnaires; observations were done using the probability sampling method, and the findings were analysed according to the same technique. The study revealed that the District Health Information System (DHIS) is the universal data management and reporting system which all healthcare and ART facilities are using to manage ART. However, regardless of all these universal arrangements such as the use of the DHIS to aid in reporting, the contents of ART reports from various facilities have not been uniform due to various factors. There is a lack of a reliable network to link DHIS computers across facilities. The shift from paper-based to electronic data management has caused the difficulties in the collating and management of ART data since some facilities are manual paper- based while others are automated using the modern DHIS. Lack of daily capturing and validation is a major challenge across the ART facilities. Further, there are Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) such as AFRICARE and the IYDSA that have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the district to provide a budgetary support for staff training in data management of ART reports in the district. While the NGOs keep on assisting the ART facilities with data management, there is a lack of skills transfer. The district could not account on follow-up of ART patients from one facility to another. This is increasing the number of defaulting in ART patients, thus there is no accurate figures on retention of patients in ART Programme. The officials from ART sites tend to use their own transport to carry data from facilities to the district offices and this resulted in late submission of reports. The study thus recommends that, inter alia, data management and trainings should be done to improve data quality in reporting, a reliable computer network be installed, backed-up and maintained for data and report management in the all healthcare facilities. All the ART sites should adopt and use the automated data management system for universality and eliminating the faults of manual paper data management and reporting. This would ensure that the contents of ART reports are uniform and a true reflection of the situation on the ground towards universal access to ART and healthcare in the Amathole Health District, and South Africa at large.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
A code of practice for practitioners in private healthcare: a privacy perspective
- Authors: Harvey, Brett D
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Medical records -- Data processing , Privacy, Right of Comparative studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/521 , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Medical records -- Data processing , Privacy, Right of Comparative studies
- Description: Whereas there are various initiatives to standardize the storage, processing and use of electronic patient information in the South African health sector, the sector is fragmented through the adoption of various approaches on national, provincial and district levels. Divergent IT systems are used in the public and private health sectors (“Recommendations of the Committee on …” 2003). Furthermore, general practitioners in some parts of the country still use paper as a primary means of documentation and storage. Nonetheless, the use of computerized systems is increasing, even in the most remote rural areas. This leads to the exposure of patient information to various threats that are perpetuated through the use of information technology. Irrespective of the level of technology adoption by practitioners in private healthcare practice, the security and privacy of patient information remains of critical importance. The disclosure of patient information whether intentional or not, can have dire consequences for a patient. In general, the requirements pertaining to the privacy of patient information are controlled and enforced through the adoption of legislation by the governing body of a country. Compared with developed nations, South Africa has limited legislation to help enforce privacy in the health sector. Conversely, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have some of the most advanced legislative frameworks when it comes to the privacy of patient information. In this dissertation, the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and South African health sectors and the legislation they have in place to ensure the privacy of health information, will be investigated. Additionally, codes of practice and guidelines on privacy of patient information for GPs, in the afore-mentioned countries, will be investigated to form an idea as to what is needed in creating and formulating a new code of practice for the South African GP, as well as a pragmatic tool (checklist) to check adherence to privacy requirements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Harvey, Brett D
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Medical records -- Data processing , Privacy, Right of Comparative studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/521 , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Medical care , Medical records -- Data processing , Privacy, Right of Comparative studies
- Description: Whereas there are various initiatives to standardize the storage, processing and use of electronic patient information in the South African health sector, the sector is fragmented through the adoption of various approaches on national, provincial and district levels. Divergent IT systems are used in the public and private health sectors (“Recommendations of the Committee on …” 2003). Furthermore, general practitioners in some parts of the country still use paper as a primary means of documentation and storage. Nonetheless, the use of computerized systems is increasing, even in the most remote rural areas. This leads to the exposure of patient information to various threats that are perpetuated through the use of information technology. Irrespective of the level of technology adoption by practitioners in private healthcare practice, the security and privacy of patient information remains of critical importance. The disclosure of patient information whether intentional or not, can have dire consequences for a patient. In general, the requirements pertaining to the privacy of patient information are controlled and enforced through the adoption of legislation by the governing body of a country. Compared with developed nations, South Africa has limited legislation to help enforce privacy in the health sector. Conversely, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have some of the most advanced legislative frameworks when it comes to the privacy of patient information. In this dissertation, the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and South African health sectors and the legislation they have in place to ensure the privacy of health information, will be investigated. Additionally, codes of practice and guidelines on privacy of patient information for GPs, in the afore-mentioned countries, will be investigated to form an idea as to what is needed in creating and formulating a new code of practice for the South African GP, as well as a pragmatic tool (checklist) to check adherence to privacy requirements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
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