Academic Research Journal on Health Information Management

Vol. 2(1), pp. 1-8, JulY 2021

ISSN: 2734-2190

https://doi.org/10.14662/arjhim2021030

 

Full Length Research

 

 

Health Records Management Practices, Referral Systems and Quality Healthcare Service Delivery in Public Health Facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria

 

1Isaruk, Ikpoko-Ore-Ebirien Dike, 2Dr. Ikonne, Chinyere N. and 3Prof. Alegbeleye, Gabriel O.

 

1Department of Information Resources Management, Babcock University Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

2Department of Information Resources Management, Babcock University Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

3Department of Information Resources Management, Babcock University Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Corresponding author’s Email: isaruk0122@pg.babacock.edu.ng

 

Accepted 27 July 2021

Abstract

Abstract: Quality health care services given to patients in public health facilities are expected to guaranty their retention and loyalty. Quality health care service delivery characterized by assurance, empathy, reliability, responsiveness and tangibility has been a challenge in most countries of the world especially in Nigeria. There is a paucity of studies on the influence of health records management practices on quality health care service delivery; referral systems on quality health care service delivery in Nigeria. Hence, this study investigated the influence of health records management practices and referral systems on quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. This study used a survey design. Population of 715 health care providers and 199 patients was used. A sample size of 463 and 186 were determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select eight health public facilities, while convenience sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the construct ranged from 0.076 to 0.84. 90% and 100% response rate was achieved. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (simple and multiple regression) statistics. The result revealed that health records management practices and referral systems have combined significant influence on quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria (Adj. R2 = 0.028, F(2, 183) = 3.661, p < 0.05). The findings indicated that records documentation (β = -0.254, t(418) = -2.636, p < 0.05) and two-way referral system (β= -0.195, t(418) = -1.961, p > 0.05) had negative insignificant influence on quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Results further indicated that patients’ had high perceptions of quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria (x̅=3.07). The findings revealed assurance (x̅ = 3.27) as the most perceived dimension and tangibility (x̅ = 2.80) as the least perceived dimension of quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study concluded that health records management practices and referral systems are paramount importance in achieving quality health care service delivery in public health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study recommended that Rivers State Government should take proactive measures to implement proper health records management practices and functional referral systems to improve quality health care service delivery in the state.

 

Keywords: Health records management practices, Public health facility, Quality health care, service delivery, and referral system

Paper type: research