Enhancing Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills in Ethiopia through Tailored Health Information System Interventions

Abstract

Background: The health information system (HIS) is fundamental for planning, monitoring, and evaluating healthcare services, and  managing healthcare resources. Technical, behavioral, and organizational factors are key determinants of routine information processes  and performance. Unlike previous assessments that focused mainly on the availability of health workers, this study aimed to assess the  competence level of existing health workforce from the perspective of performing key routine health information tasks at point of care. It  estimates the changes in knowledge and skill level of the health workforce in health facilities in Ethiopia after HIS focused  interventions.

Method: A pre-post interventional study design was employed. For the baseline survey (in 2018), 99 service providers, HIS focal, and  facility managers from 48 health facilities were selected in 19 HIS program implemented districts. At end-line survey (in 2022), 120 service  providers, HIS focal, and facility managers from 42 randomly selected health facilities in HIS program implemented districts were  included. In both surveys, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Health workers’ knowledge and competence  levels in performing Routine Health Information System (RHIS) tasks including data quality checking, problem solving, data visualization,  data interpretation, and data use skills were assessed and trend analysis was conducted using chisquare tests changes in health  professional’s knowledge and competence levels over the five years period.

Results: The findings of this study showed that the capacity building interventions done by the Data Use Partnership (DUP) and the  Capacity Building and Mentorship Program (CBMP) improved health professional’s knowledge and competence in performing HIS tasks,  as well as their problem solving and data use skills. For instance, the intervention improved health workers’ knowledge of data quality  verification by 37%, data visualization and interpretation skills by 29% and 20%, problem solving and data use by 24% and 28%, respectively. The intervention also increased the health workers’ practice of identifying performance gaps, conducting root cause  analysis, and developing action plan by 16%, 14%, and 26% respectively. 

Conclusion and recommendation: Thus, supportive  supervisions, mentorship and onsite coaching is crucial for improving the data quality, fostering an organizational culture of information  use, and to make evidence based decisions. It is recommended to integrate various insertions such as behavioral change, technological  support and capacity buildings.