Appl Clin Inform 2013; 04(01): 25-36
DOI: 10.4338/ACI-2012-10-RA-0044
Research Article
Schattauer GmbH

An e-Health Decision Support System for Improving Compliance of Health Workers to the Maternity Care Protocols in South Africa

V. Horner
1   South African Medical Research Council, Research Capacity Development, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
2   University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
,
P. Rautenbach
2   University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
,
N. Mbananga
3   University of the Witwatersrand, LINK Centre, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
,
T. Mashamba
4   University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
,
H. Kwinda
5   Elim Hospital, Elim, Limpopo, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Correspondence to:

V. Horner
No. 1 Soutpansberg Ave.
Pretoria
(South Africa)
0001

Publication History

received: 11 October 2012

accepted: 24 January 2012

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

 

Summary

Background: There are problems of quality in maternity services at primary health care level in South Africa. Many of these problems can be traced to non-adherence to the maternity care guidelines and lack of tools to support clinic staff and managers in their roles. Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the utility of e-health (computerized) decision support systems at addressing the problem of compliance of health workers to the maternity care guidelines at primary health care in South Africa. At present there are no documented studies on e-health clinical decision support systems for primary health care in South Africa, though clinical decision support systems for primary health care are listed as part of the e-health strategy of the National Department of Health. Methods: An e-health decision support system named the Bacis (Basic Antenatal Care In-formation System) Program was developed, then implemented and evaluated at a primary health care clinic. The duration of the study was two years: this includes development, implementation and evaluation.

Results and Conclusion: There was an overall improvement in compliance from 85.1 % to 89.3%. This result was not statistically significant. However when results were stratified into specific categories, the Bacis Program showed statistically significant improvement in compliance over the checklist system in three out of nine important categories. These are compliance at booking, patients younger than 18 years and patients booking after week 20. Further, insights and experience were also gained on development and implementation of clinical information systems at resource strained environments such as primary health care in South Africa. These results, insights and experience are invaluable for the implementation of the proposed e-health strategy in South Africa.

Citation: Horner V, Rautenbach P, Mbanang N, Mashamba T, Kwinda H. An e-health decision support system for improving compliance of health workers to the maternity care protocols in South Africa. Appl Clin Inf 2013; 4: 25–36

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2012-10-RA-0044


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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the research.

  • References

  • 1 Pattinson RC. Chapter 7: Maternal Health [report, health systems research agency]. In: South African Health Review 2003/2004. Durban(South Africa):. Health Systems Trust; South Africa: 2004. p. 89-99.
  • 2 Department of Health.. Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths 2007 [report on enquiry into maternal deaths]. Pretoria (South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2008
  • 3 Horner V. The Utilisation of a Decision Support System for Increasing Levels of Compliance of Health Workers to the Maternity Care Protocols and Improving Maternity Outcomes in Gauteng Province South Africa [PhD thesis]. Garankua (South Africa): University of Limpopo, Medunsa Medical Campus; Department of Community Health 2012
  • 4 Department of Health.. Guidelines for Maternity Care in South Africa [national guidelines on maternity care]. third ed. Pretoria(South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2007
  • 5 Pattinson RC. Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) Handbook [training manual]. Pretoria (South Africa): University of Pretoria, South Africa; 2007
  • 6 Grimshaw JM, Thomas RE, MacLennan G, Fraser C, Ramsay CR, Vale L. et al. Effectiveness and Effeciency of Guideline Dissemination and Implementation Strategies [technical report, performance agency]. Health Technology Assessment. 2004 8:(6)
  • 7 Zielstorff RD. Online practice guidelines: issues, obstacles, and future prospects. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1998; 5: 227-236.
  • 8 Lobach DF, Hammond WE. Computerized decision support based on a clinical practice guideline improves compliance with care standards. Am J Med 1997; 102: 89-98.
  • 9 Department of Health.. e-Health Strategy, 2012 –2016 [policy document]. Pretoria (South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2012
  • 10 Rohde J, Shaw V, Hedberg C, Stoops N, Venter S, Venter K. et al. Chapter 13: Information for Primary Health Care [report, health systems research agency]. In: South African Health Review 2008. Durban(South Africa). Health Systems Trust; South Africa: 2008
  • 11 Department of Health.. NHI Policy Document [policy document]. Pretoria(South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2011
  • 12 Yoong AFE, Lim J, Hudson CN, Chard T. Audit of Compliance with Antenatal Care Protocols. British Medical Journal 1992; 305: 184-186.
  • 13 Jacobs E, Punt C, Bothloko C. A profile of the North West Province: demographics, poverty, income, inequality and unemployment [technical report; Internet]. PROVIDE Project; North West Provincial Government, South Africa; 2009. [cited 2012 June]. Available from: http://ideas.repec.org/p/provbp 58056.html

Correspondence to:

V. Horner
No. 1 Soutpansberg Ave.
Pretoria
(South Africa)
0001

  • References

  • 1 Pattinson RC. Chapter 7: Maternal Health [report, health systems research agency]. In: South African Health Review 2003/2004. Durban(South Africa):. Health Systems Trust; South Africa: 2004. p. 89-99.
  • 2 Department of Health.. Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths 2007 [report on enquiry into maternal deaths]. Pretoria (South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2008
  • 3 Horner V. The Utilisation of a Decision Support System for Increasing Levels of Compliance of Health Workers to the Maternity Care Protocols and Improving Maternity Outcomes in Gauteng Province South Africa [PhD thesis]. Garankua (South Africa): University of Limpopo, Medunsa Medical Campus; Department of Community Health 2012
  • 4 Department of Health.. Guidelines for Maternity Care in South Africa [national guidelines on maternity care]. third ed. Pretoria(South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2007
  • 5 Pattinson RC. Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) Handbook [training manual]. Pretoria (South Africa): University of Pretoria, South Africa; 2007
  • 6 Grimshaw JM, Thomas RE, MacLennan G, Fraser C, Ramsay CR, Vale L. et al. Effectiveness and Effeciency of Guideline Dissemination and Implementation Strategies [technical report, performance agency]. Health Technology Assessment. 2004 8:(6)
  • 7 Zielstorff RD. Online practice guidelines: issues, obstacles, and future prospects. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1998; 5: 227-236.
  • 8 Lobach DF, Hammond WE. Computerized decision support based on a clinical practice guideline improves compliance with care standards. Am J Med 1997; 102: 89-98.
  • 9 Department of Health.. e-Health Strategy, 2012 –2016 [policy document]. Pretoria (South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2012
  • 10 Rohde J, Shaw V, Hedberg C, Stoops N, Venter S, Venter K. et al. Chapter 13: Information for Primary Health Care [report, health systems research agency]. In: South African Health Review 2008. Durban(South Africa). Health Systems Trust; South Africa: 2008
  • 11 Department of Health.. NHI Policy Document [policy document]. Pretoria(South Africa): Department of Health, South Africa; 2011
  • 12 Yoong AFE, Lim J, Hudson CN, Chard T. Audit of Compliance with Antenatal Care Protocols. British Medical Journal 1992; 305: 184-186.
  • 13 Jacobs E, Punt C, Bothloko C. A profile of the North West Province: demographics, poverty, income, inequality and unemployment [technical report; Internet]. PROVIDE Project; North West Provincial Government, South Africa; 2009. [cited 2012 June]. Available from: http://ideas.repec.org/p/provbp 58056.html