Evaluation of the health management information system status and effectiveness at Jimma University Medical Centre: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Health management information system (HMIS) plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of health services by integrating data collection, processing, reporting, and information utilization. However, the effectiveness and status of HMIS implementation at institutions like Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the status and effectiveness of the HMIS at JUMC. Methods: A facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 283 study participants who were enrolled in this study, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data was entered and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 20. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data. Results: A total of 221 participants provided valid responses which made a response rate of 8.1%. A significant proportion of participants (65% for record keeping and 90% for accessibility) indicated that the hospital reliance on manual systems for data storage and retrieval. The effectiveness of the HMIS at the hospital is found to be only 50%, falling short of World Health Organization (WHO) standards due to issues with accuracy, timeliness, relevance, and completeness of information. This deficiency hampers the accessibility and storage of information, thereby limiting its utilization for decision-making. Conclusion: The HMIS at the JUMC lacks effectiveness for further utilization and quality service provision. The status shows that the paper-based patient record system is still in use. Raising awareness among staff members, providing training, decentralizing the HMIS by appointing information and communication technology experts in each department, and establishing a database management system for seamless information sharing and retrieval are required to enhance effective HMIS utilization in the medical center.