The use of information and communications technology for health service delivery in Namibia: perspectives of the health service providers

Abstract

We surveyed health service providers in Namibia to find out how they used information and communication technologies (ICTs) to deliver health services to their patients. A structured questionnaire was administered to 21 health service providers in two regions of the country (one urban, one rural). There was overwhelming consensus among the health service providers that ICTs were very important, especially for medical services (100%). Ninety-one percent of health service providers viewed ICT as helping them to interact with other providers in other health institutions. The most commonly used ICT was the telephone, which was used in the admission areas of most health institutions (36%); the next most commonly used ICT was the PC (23%). The most commonly used channels for communication with patients were the telephone followed by TV. Some of the problems common to all health institutions in Namibia were poor budgetary resources and lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity or telephone lines. There is a need to promote ICT use for health service delivery and also to stimulate patients to use ICT to access health services and relevant information.

Development and Evaluation of a Blog about Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate and Hearing

“…The increasing use of the internet to obtain information in the health area by professionals, students, patients and the general population was also observed in other studies. 17 18 31 The widespread access to ICTs is related to a greater proximity between the organizers and the target audience. 30 The most outstanding motivational aspects were the ease of use, the fact that it was entertaining, the possibility to disseminate information, and the identification with the subject and the audience.…”

“…The ICTs can be used to access many different things, such as health websites, information and interactive electronic health records, health programs to support decision-making, second formative opinions, interactions between specialized centers, education programs adapted for health to increase public access to this information, and they can improve the quality of care, reduce pipeline errors, increase collaboration and encourage the adoption of healthy habits. 16 17 18 19 But, in order to achieve this, it is necessary that the information is easily accessible, attractive and reliable for the guidance and promotion of health in various areas. 19 A review process of the development of these tools to measure their quality, 20 using the Emory questionnaire, for example, is also necessary.…”

Consumer Health Informatics: The Application Of ICT In Improving Patient-Provider Partnership For A Better Health Care

“…Meke et al [ 6 ] surveyed health services providers in Namibia to find out how they use ICTs in the delivery of healthcare. Twenty-one (21) health workers completed a set of structured questionnaire in two regions of Namibia (one urban, one rural).…”

What Is the Point of the Point-of-Care? A Case Study of User Resistance to an e-Health System

“…11 A well-known study by Timmons 12 found that resistance from nurses comes in a variety of forms and is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon worthy of additional study. Certainly in the developing world, where nurses may have very little exposure to IT other than cell phones,* and even in e-health applications, 13 the responses of nurses to new systems is worthy of further and ongoing investigation.…”