Assessment of health informatics competencies in undergraduate training of healthcare professionals in Rwanda

Abstract

Introduction: Effective and appropriate use of information and communication technologies is an essential competency for all healthcare professionals. To achieve this goal, healthcare professionals should receive the requisite health informatics training during basic and advanced educational programs. This study assessed health informatics competencies in existing curricula of the University of Rwanda for undergraduate training of healthcare professionals in Rwanda. Healthcare professionals often lack knowledge of systematically processing data and information, which affects the decisionmaking process. As health information technologies increasingly become part of the health care environment, the need to train healthcare professionals with health informatics competencies is growing.

Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study with a review of document approach was conducted. Using a census method we assessed the availability of health informatics competencies in existing curricula for undergraduate training of healthcare professionals in Rwanda.

Results: There is a low presence of health informatics competencies in the studied curricula with only 11 out of 23 competencies (47.8%) having a score of presence greater than 50%.

Conclusion: To bridge the gap we propose that more health informatics competencies be included in all undergraduate health professions’ curricula. Furthermore, the establishment of continuous on-the-job training in health informatics for those who are already practicing is also essential.

Keywords: Health informatics, competencies, undergraduate training/education, Healthcare professionals, Rwanda