Health professionals’ routine practice documentation and its associated factors in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives Documenting routine practice is significant for better diagnosis, treatment, continuity of care and medicolegal issues. However, health professionals’ routine practice documentation is poorly practised. Therefore, this study aimed to assess health professionals’ routine practice documentation and associated factors in a resource-limited setting. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was used from 24 March up to 19 April 2022. Stratified random sampling and a pretested self-administered questionnaire were used among 423 samples. Epi Info V.7.1 and STATA V.15 software were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model were employed to describe the study subjects and to measure the strength of association between dependent and independent variables, respectively. A variable with a p value of <0.2 in bivariate logistic regression was considered for multivariable logistic regression. In multivariable logistic regression, ORs with 95% CIs and a p value of <0.05 were considered to determine the strength of association between dependent and independent variables. Results Health professionals’ documentation practice was 51.1% (95% CI: 48.64 to 53.1). Lack of motivation (adjusted OR (AOR): 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.76), good knowledge (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 0.72 to 2.97), taking training (AOR: 4.18, 95% CI: 2.99 to 8.28), using electronic systems (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.36 to 3.28), availability of standard documentation tools (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.35 to 4.43) were statistically associated factors. Conclusions Health professionals’ documentation practice is good. Lack of motivation, good knowledge, taking training, using electronic systems and the availability of documentation tools were significant factors. Stakeholders should provide additional training, and encourage professionals to use an electronic system for documentation practices.

Nursing Documentation Practices and Related Factors in Patient Care in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Highly motivated nurses were more likely than less motivated nurses to have good nursing record practices. This report was consistent with studies conducted in Ethiopia [ 14 , 17 , 23 ]. Evidence suggests that motivated employees develop a positive attitude and documentation practices are carried out responsibly.…”

“…All included studies were cross-sectional studies and the sample size was between 111 [ 21 ] and 430 [ 22 ]. Regarding the regional distribution of the included studies, two were located in the Oromia region [ 14 , 23 ], three in the Amhara region [ 18 , 24 , 25 ], and one in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) [ 26 ], Somalia [ 17 ], Addis Ababa [ 21 ], and Tigray [ 22 ] ( Table 2 ).…”

Health professionals’ acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline application in a resource-limited setting: using a modified UTAUT model

“…Moreover, the clinical guidelines are available in voluminous text files and are very laborious and time-consuming to access [ 16 ]. Therefore, this may promote distorted health information so that health professionals cannot access appropriate guidelines at the point of patient care [ 17 ].…”