The countries within the Caribbean region are pursuing the development of national integrated health information systems (iHIS). The model of the Belize Health Information System (BHIS) is referenced as the implementation guide. There are no established standards to facilitate independent evaluation of these types of systems. This study utilizes existing knowledge to determine the common approaches for evaluating health information systems (HIS) and applies these findings to formulate an evaluation approach for these regional systems. This approach is intended to strengthen the regional capacity for evaluating national iHISs by examining the contextual factors and providing an evaluation tool, CHEATS+, for systems lifecycle evaluation.

Background: International agencies such as the World Health Organisation have highlighted the potential of digital information and communications technologies to strengthen health systems, which are underpinned by the 'building blocks' of information, human resources, finances, commodities, leadership and governance, and service delivery. In high income countries, evidence of the positive impacts of 'eHealth' innovations on the cost-effectiveness of healthcare is growing and many governments are now providing incentives for their adoption. In contrast, the use of eHealth in developing countries has remained low and efforts to introduce these new approaches have experienced high failure rates. There is even scepticism regarding the feasibility of eHealth in low-resource settings, which may be hindered by high costs, indeterminate returns on investment, technical problems and socio-organisational barriers. More research is needed to document both the value of eHealth for strengthening resource-limited health systems and the challenges involved in their implementation and adoption, so that insights from such research may be used to inform future initiatives. While many studies of eHealth for patient care in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are taking place, evidence of its role in improving administrative processes such as financial management is lacking, despite the importance of 'good governance' (transparency and accountability) for ensuring strong and resilient health systems. The overall objective of this PhD was to elucidate the enablers, inhibitors and outcomes characterising the implementation and adoption of a modular eHealth system in a group of healthcare facilities in rural Malawi. The system included both clinical and billing modules. The specific objectives were (i) to understand the socio-technical, organisational and change management factors facilitating or hindering the implementation and adoption of the eHealth system, (ii) to assess the quality of data captured by the eHealth system compared with conventional paper-based records, and (iii) to understand how information within the eHealth system was used for service delivery, reporting and financial management. A further aim was to contribute to the corpus of mixed-methods case studies exploring eHealth system implementation processes and outcomes (including data quality) in LMIC. As described in the following chapters, the research also gave rise to unanticipated and serendipitous findings, which led to new lines of enquiry and influenced the theoretical perspectives from which the analysis drew.

No description available.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This research explores a poorly understood area of health systems: the nature of managerial decision-making in primary healthcare facilities, and the information that informs decision-making at this level. Located in the emerging field of Health Policy and System Research, this research draws on constructivist and participatory perspectives to understand the role of information and, more broadly, learning and knowledge in decisions that primary healthcare managers make, and the systemic factors influencing this. Using a multiple case study design with iterative cycles of in-depth data collection and analysis over a three year period, it examined the decision-making and information use in three cases of managerial responsibility in 17 primary healthcare facilities in a sub-district in Cape Town. The cases were: improving efficiency of service delivery, implementing programme priorities and managing leave of absence. Using multiple strategies for engaging primary healthcare facility managers, often as co-researchers of their own practice, the research sought to elicit both their explicit and tacit, experience-based knowledge on these phenomena. Key insights gained in the research are that firstly, operational health management at facility level is less linear and simple than policy-makers and planners often assume, and is, instead, characterised by considerable on-the-spot problem solving and people management to meet multiple agendas, which can be surprisingly complex. Secondly, contrary to prevailing views, managers do actively use information in decision-making, but require a wide range of information which is outside of the current, and indeed the globally-advocated, health information system (HIS). Thirdly, they not only use, but generate, information in their management routines and practices, and must learn from experience in order to adapt new interventions for successful implementation in their facilities and communities. This research thus makes explicit the value and use of informal information and knowledge in decision-making. It demonstrates, amongst others, a relationship of functional interdependence between the use of formal information in the HIS, and informal information and knowledge, suggesting that the latter has the potential to improve the use and utility of formal health information by making sense of it within the local context. Furthermore, building on the public policy literature on governance, this research develops a model to understand the multiple contextual influences on decision-making and information use, showing the central role of values and relationships across the health system. It proposes a causal mechanism for strengthening the use of information in decision-making. Finally, in giving priority to the informational needs of facility managers, this research offers a bottom-up perspective which argues for an integrated approach to health system strengthening which moves beyond atomised treatment of HIS strengthening. It suggests the need to re-think how to support facility managers by re-positioning the HIS relative to organisational learning, and leadership and management development.

O processamento automático de dados hospitalares tem uma grande importância nas tomadas de decisão em ambientes de saúde. Gestores e profissionais dessa área podem utilizar ferramentas e sistemas de informação que facilitem a visualização e análise destes dados. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi propor uma metodologia de análise que auxiliasse estes profissionais da saúde na gerência de dados hospitalares. Particularmente, esta nova abordagem foi o estudo e a inserção de uma estatística de segunda ordem, que é o caso da competição entre hospitais, no Portal Web do Observatório Regional de Atenção Hospitalar, que tem como objetivo divulgar informações estatísticas de assistência hospitalar. Para isso, foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta para expressar a competitividade entre dois hospitais a partir da medida de Aproximação Relacional proposta por Min-Woong Sohn. Os resultados mostraram que a ferramenta desenvolvida não só permitiu que fosse realizada uma classificação dos hospitais do DRS-XIII com relação à força competitiva exercida por cada um deles no mercado hospitalar, como ainda possibilitou uma maior exploração da medida proposta por Sohn. Isso se deve ao fato da ferramenta disponibilizar aos usuários um conjunto de filtros que permitem a realização de diversas consultas em tempo real. Essa característica contribuiu para a identificação de importantes fenômenos que não seriam reconhecidos no método tradicional. / The automatic processing in hospital data has great significance in making decisions at healthcare environments. Managers and professionals in this area can use tools and information systems to facilitate the view and analyze of these data. In this context, the intent of this study was to propose a methodology of analysis to support healthcare professionals in the management of hospital data. Particularly, this new approach was the study and the inclusion of a second order statistic, which is the case of competition among hospitals, in the Web Portal of the Regional Observatory of Hospital Care (Observatório Regional de Atenção Hospitalar - ORAH), which aims to disseminate statistical information of hospital care. For this, we developed a tool to express the competition among two hospitals using the measurement Relational Approach proposed by Min-Woong Sohn. The results showed that the developed tool not only allowed a classification of DRS-XIII hospitals about competitive force exerted by each of them in the hospital market, but also allowed greater exploitation of the measure proposed by Sohn. This is because the tool provide users a list of filters that allow you to perform several queries in real time. This characteristic has contributed to the identification of important phenomena that would not be recognized in the traditional method.

Os sistemas de informação em saúde permitem melhorias no processo de gestão e assistência ao paciente. A fundação HEMOBA é responsável pela assistência médica e transfusional de grande parcela da população baiana, pelo SUS, em seu ambulatório transfusional e de atendimento à pacientes com doenças hematológicas benignas. A doença falciforme (DF) é uma das doenças hereditárias mais prevalentes no mundo, sendo a Bahia o estado brasileiro onde é encontrada sua maior prevalência. A transfusão sanguínea é uma das bases para o seu tratamento. Não existe sistema informatizado no atendimento desses pacientes nem banco de dados sobre essa população na instituição. OBJETIVO: Desenvolver um Software para seguimento transfusional em hemoterapia, com ênfase no acompanhamento de pacientes falciformes, possibilitando descrever e analisar aspectos transfusionais dessa população e dos doadores. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi desenvolvido um Software, denominado BDTrans, utilizando a metodologia de Ciclo de Vida de Desenvolvimento de Sistemas, que possibilitou um estudo analítico, transversal, com abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, dos dados extraídos do sistema. Foram acompanhadas crianças falciformes, de 0 a 18 anos, em regime transfusional, atendidas no ambulatório da Fundação HEMOBA. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 108 pacientes, destes 58% apresentavam DTC alterado e 38% apresentavam passado de AVC. As crianças residentes em Salvador correspondiam a 34%. A maioria das transfusões foi iniciada na faixa etária entre 2-8 anos (61%) e 9-12 anos (24,7%). 28% dos pacientes iniciou o regime transfusional em 2011, seguido dos anos de 2012 com 16%. A prevalência de aloimunização eritrocitária foi de 26%, sendo os principais aloanticorpos contra antígenos do sistema Rh e Kell. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização do Software possibilitou tornar os dados mais acessíveis para análise clínica e epidemiológica, auxiliando na gestão e assistência à saúde. O sistema poderá ser utilizado como base para o desenvolvimento de um programa de fidelização de doadores fenotipados em um futuro próximo. / Softwares built for data collection from Health Centers are important tools for patient care and for public health decisions. The HEMOBA foundation is responsible for health assistance of a great proportion of the population from the State of Bahia, including medical care and transfusional assistance to patients with benign hematological disorders. Sickle cell disease is one of the most prevalent hereditary disorders in the world, and the State of Bahia has the highest prevalence of the S mutation in Brazil. Blood transfusion is one of the treatment modalities for sickle cell patients, and there is no software for data collection of the clinical and transfusional program. OBJECTIVE: to develop a software to help follow up the transfusional program of the HEMOBA foundation, including the sickle cell patients, collecting transfusional data and blood donor information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we developed a software called \"BDTrans\", using the methodology of the \"Cicle of Life System Development\", that allowed an analytical, transversal study with both qualitative and quantitative approach of the data extracted from the program. Sickle cell children from 0 to 18 years who were on transfusion at The HEMOBA foundation were the subject of our study. RESULTS: 108 sickle cell patients were included, 58% had brain vasculopathy and 38% had a history of stroke. 34% of the children lived in Salvador. The age range of the children when the transfusion program started was between 2-8 years (61%) and 9-12 years (24.7%). 28% of the patients started the transfusional program in 2011, and 16% started in 2012. The prevalence of red cell alloimmunization was 26%, most of the antibodies were against Rh and Kell blood groups. CONCLUSION: The utilization of the BDTrans Software promoted the collection of clinical and transfusional data from sickle cell patients, possibilitating the evaluation of their transfusional program, and providing important information to the public health system. The software can also be used to develop a fidelization program of phenotyped blood donors in the near future.

Introdução: Dados da Organização Mundial da Saúde apontam a intoxicação como um importante problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo, especialmente em países subdesenvolvidos ou em desenvolvimento. Objetivos: estimar a taxa de mortalidade e descrever os óbitos por intoxicação exógena (IE) no município de São Paulo (MSP) no ano de 2014. Métodos: Utilizaram-se as informações dos registros dos óbitos (causa básica) no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM) e no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Para o relacionamento probabilístico foram selecionadas as variáveis: nome, data de nascimento e sexo. Foram utilizados os softwares OpenRecLink para o linkage, Stata® para análise de dados e o TabWin para a distribuição espacial dos óbitos por IE. Os óbitos foram descritos em relação às características do local de ocorrência, circunstância da exposição, grupo do agente tóxico e classificação final. Foi utilizado o método de captura-recaptura para estimar o número de óbitos, após o relacionamento dos bancos de dados. Resultados: Os dados do SIM apontaram para uma taxa de mortalidade por IE de 5,2/100.000 habitantes no MSP, em 2014. O distrito administrativo de São Miguel apresentou a maior taxa de mortalidade 12,2/100.000 habitantes. A maior parte dos óbitos (n=412) foi atestada por médico do IML. O sexo masculino foi o que apresentou maior frequência (71 por cento ). A faixa etária de maior mortalidade foi a de 20 a 39 anos. Foi possível identificar uma grande diferença entre o número de óbitos por intoxicação registrado no SIM (n=596) e o estimado (n=1.514,5) pelo método de captura-recaptura. A taxa de mortalidade estimada pelo método de capturarecaptura foi de 13,2/100.000 habitantes. Dessa forma identificou-se um sub-registro de óbito de 60,6 por cento . Conclusões: Os resultados mostram que a mortalidade por IE é subestimada quando comparada a calculada a partir da captura-recaptura de dados. O relacionamento das bases de dados é importante para estimar a magnitude da ocorrência dos óbitos por IE. Há a necessidade de formulação de políticas públicas voltadas à prática da vigilância das intoxicações, qualificação dos profissionais da assistência à saúde para o diagnóstico das IE e capacitação aos responsáveis pelo registro dos casos / Background: Data from the World Health Organization indicates poisoning as a major public health problem worldwide, especially in underdeveloped or developing countries. Objective: to estimate the mortality rate and to describe deaths from exogenous poisoning (EP) in São Paulo city in the year 2014. Methods: Data from the death records (basic cause) were collected in the Mortality Information System (MIS) and in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (NDIS). For the probabilistic relationship the following variables were selected: name, date of birth and gender. OpenRecLink software was used for linkage, Stata® for data analysis and TabWin for spatial distribution of deaths by EP. Deaths were described in relation to the characteristics of the place of occurrence, exposure circumstance, toxic agent group and final classification. The capture-recapture method was used to estimate the number of deaths, after the linkage of the databases. Results: The MIS data pointed to a mortality rate by EP of 5,2/100.000 inhabitants in São Paulo city in 2014. São Miguel administrative district presented the highest mortality rate 12,2/100.000 inhabitants. Most part of the deaths (n=412) were attested by IML doctor. The male gender was the one with the highest frequency (71 per cent ). The age group with the highest incidence was 20 to 39 years. It was possible to identify a large difference between the number of intoxication deaths recorded in the MIS (n=596) and the estimated (n=1.514,5) by the capture-recapture method. The mortality rate estimated by the capture-recapture method was 13,2/100.000 inhabitants. In this way, a 60,6 per cent underreporting of death was identified. Conclusions: The obtained results show that the mortality by EP is underestimated when compared to the calculated from the capture-recapture data. The linkage of databases is important to estimate the magnitude of the occurrence of death by EP. There is a need for formulation of public policies aimed at the practice of poisoning surveillance, qualification of health care professionals for the EP diagnosis and training of those responsible for case registration

O acompanhamento dos casos de Tuberculose (TB) envolve planejar ações assistenciais e gerenciais, as quais preveem a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de registro e sistemas de informação. Dessa forma, desenvolveu-se um sistema de informação para acompanhamento dos doentes de TB (SISTB), sendo que o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a implantação e utilização de tal sistema em um Ambulatório de Referência (AR) para o tratamento da TB de Ribeirão Preto - SP no período de 2013 à 2016. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo-analítico, do tipo intervenção, com abordagem quantitativa. Para análise do processo de implantação do SISTB, foi realizada observação com roteiro. O banco de dados do SISTB foi consultado para analisar a utilização e completude de preenchimento dos dados. Resultados: adaptações foram realizadas no SISTB para atender as necessidades dos profissionais de saúde. O cadastro dos doentes no sistema ocorreu em média 7 dias após o início do tratamento. O cadastro das supervisões medicamentosas e a edição de dados foram as ações mais realizadas. Fragilidades na completude dos dados foram identificadas no preenchimento do CPF, número do SINAN e na data do exame de cultura de escarro. Apresentaram 100% de completude o número do prontuário, endereço, município, data de nascimento, serviço que descobriu o caso, data de notificação, unidade de atendimento médico, unidade de supervisão medicamentosa, data de início do tratamento, tipo de tratamento, realizou tratamento anterior, data da alta e desfecho do tratamento. Conclusão: a utilização do SISTB possibilitou a geração automática da Ficha de Registro do Tratamento Diretamente Observado (TDO) e Boletim de Acompanhamento Mensal. Apesar da incompletude no preenchimento de alguns dados, outros foram completamente preenchidos. Foram identificados problemas que dificultavam o uso do SISTB, os quais foram corrigidos. O SISTB permitiu agrupar diferentes registros em um único local com acesso online, facilitando o compartilhamento e visualização de informações entre os profissionais e serviços de saúde / The monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) cases involves planning care and management actions, which provide the use of different instruments registration and information systems. Thus, it was developed an information system for monitoring TB patients (SISTB), and the present study analyzed the implementation and use of this system in a reference outpatient clinic (AR) for TB treatment in Ribeirão Preto - SP from 2013 to 2016. This is a descriptive and analytical epidemiological study of type intervention with a quantitative approach. For analysis of SISTB deployment process, script with observation was performed. The SISTB database was consulted to analyze the data use, data fill completeness. Results: Improvements were made in SISTB to meet the needs of healthcare professionals. The registration system of the patients was on average 7 days after initiation of treatment. Registration of drug supervision and editing of data was the most performed actions. Weaknesses in the completeness of data were identified for completion of the CPF, SINAN number and date of sputum culture test. Showed 100% completion of the medical record number, address, city, date of birth, service that discovered the case, notification, medical care unit, drug supervision unit, starting date of treatment, type of treatment, being treated earlier, date of discharge and treatment outcome. Conclusion: The use of SISTB enabled the automatic generation of Treatment Registration Form Directly Observed (TDO) and Monthly Monitoring Bulletin. Despite the incompleteness in filling some data, others were completely filled. Problems were identified that hindered the use of SISTB, which were corrected. The SISTB allowed group different records in a single location with online access, facilitating the sharing and visualization of information between professionals and health services

O acompanhamento dos casos de Tuberculose (TB) envolve planejar ações assistenciais e gerenciais, as quais preveem a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de registro e sistemas de informação. Dessa forma, desenvolveu-se um sistema de informação para acompanhamento dos doentes de TB (SISTB), sendo que o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a implantação e utilização de tal sistema em um Ambulatório de Referência (AR) para o tratamento da TB de Ribeirão Preto - SP no período de 2013 à 2016. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo-analítico, do tipo intervenção, com abordagem quantitativa. Para análise do processo de implantação do SISTB, foi realizada observação com roteiro. O banco de dados do SISTB foi consultado para analisar a utilização e completude de preenchimento dos dados. Resultados: adaptações foram realizadas no SISTB para atender as necessidades dos profissionais de saúde. O cadastro dos doentes no sistema ocorreu em média 7 dias após o início do tratamento. O cadastro das supervisões medicamentosas e a edição de dados foram as ações mais realizadas. Fragilidades na completude dos dados foram identificadas no preenchimento do CPF, número do SINAN e na data do exame de cultura de escarro. Apresentaram 100% de completude o número do prontuário, endereço, município, data de nascimento, serviço que descobriu o caso, data de notificação, unidade de atendimento médico, unidade de supervisão medicamentosa, data de início do tratamento, tipo de tratamento, realizou tratamento anterior, data da alta e desfecho do tratamento. Conclusão: a utilização do SISTB possibilitou a geração automática da Ficha de Registro do Tratamento Diretamente Observado (TDO) e Boletim de Acompanhamento Mensal. Apesar da incompletude no preenchimento de alguns dados, outros foram completamente preenchidos. Foram identificados problemas que dificultavam o uso do SISTB, os quais foram corrigidos. O SISTB permitiu agrupar diferentes registros em um único local com acesso online, facilitando o compartilhamento e visualização de informações entre os profissionais e serviços de saúde / The monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) cases involves planning care and management actions, which provide the use of different instruments registration and information systems. Thus, it was developed an information system for monitoring TB patients (SISTB), and the present study analyzed the implementation and use of this system in a reference outpatient clinic (AR) for TB treatment in Ribeirão Preto - SP from 2013 to 2016. This is a descriptive and analytical epidemiological study of type intervention with a quantitative approach. For analysis of SISTB deployment process, script with observation was performed. The SISTB database was consulted to analyze the data use, data fill completeness. Results: Improvements were made in SISTB to meet the needs of healthcare professionals. The registration system of the patients was on average 7 days after initiation of treatment. Registration of drug supervision and editing of data was the most performed actions. Weaknesses in the completeness of data were identified for completion of the CPF, SINAN number and date of sputum culture test. Showed 100% completion of the medical record number, address, city, date of birth, service that discovered the case, notification, medical care unit, drug supervision unit, starting date of treatment, type of treatment, being treated earlier, date of discharge and treatment outcome. Conclusion: The use of SISTB enabled the automatic generation of Treatment Registration Form Directly Observed (TDO) and Monthly Monitoring Bulletin. Despite the incompleteness in filling some data, others were completely filled. Problems were identified that hindered the use of SISTB, which were corrected. The SISTB allowed group different records in a single location with online access, facilitating the sharing and visualization of information between professionals and health services

The Saudi ministry of health reported that government health care spending doubled from 2008 to 2011. To address increased demand, the government encouraged small to medium enterprise (SME) growth. However, SME leaders could not leverage technology as a growth enabler because they lacked strategies to address operating inefficiencies associated with technology. Only 50% of hospitals fully implemented information technology. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of SME leaders on strategies needed to accelerate technology implementation. This exploration drew on a conceptual framework developed from Wainwright and Waring's framework addressing issues of technology adoption. Data were collected from semistructured interviews of 20 SME leaders in Saudi Arabia. A modified van Kaam method was used to analyze participants' interview transcripts in search of common themes. The main themes were strategies to address human resources, clinical teams, funding, and organizational and leadership alignment to accelerate the diffusion of technology. Findings indicated that insurance companies influence SME operations, growth, and survival. Analysis of findings revealed the need for change in management, training, implementation follow up, and staff retention to accelerate technology implementation. Application of findings has the potential to promote positive social change in guiding SME leaders to be change agents and enabling them to create a reliable, sustainable health care delivery system.