A study looked at how healthcare managers in Somalia use data from electronic medical records (EMR) to make daily decisions. Researchers surveyed 405 managers across various public health facilities to see if these digital tools were being used effectively for things like following clinical guidelines, improving provider performance, and enhancing quality of care.
The findings showed that only about 36% of the managers reported using EMR data adequately for decision-making. Specifically, usage was even lower when it came to following clinical guidelines (29.9%) or tracking provider performance (28.4%). Only 15.1% of managers used this data for quality improvement efforts.
The study found that certain factors influenced how much data was used. For example, laboratory professionals were more likely to use EMR data than general practitioners. Having access to technical support and using tools like performance dashboards also linked to higher usage. However, when the system was perceived as difficult to use, managers were less likely to use the data. These results suggest that improving system usability and providing better training could help staff make better decisions.
