Electronic Medical Record System Improves Antiretroviral Treatment Data Quality and Use: Experience from 111 Health Facilities in Ethiopia

EasyChair Preprint 7711

Abstract

Background: Data quality and data use were major gaps in HIV/AIDS program implementation in Ethiopia. 

Intervention:  A multidisciplinary team was trained on DQI procedures. The team conducted pre- and post-initiative assessments and supported health facilities through onsite and virtual mentorship. Patient information was entered by the clinician into a paper chart and, after the visit, a data clerk enters the information into EMR-ART database. A baseline data quality audit was conducted using 2,109 randomly selected patient charts to assess the level of data completeness and accuracy of both paper and electronic records. In addition, a total of 422,529 active charts were identified from all 111 facilities, and the EMR-ART system and ART registers were updated. The EMR-ART system was enhanced to meet ART service-related DQA and reporting requirements.

Results: The baseline audit found that data completeness was <50% for demographic data such as district [39%], telephone number [49%], and house number [8%]; <20% for WHO staging at enrolment; 21% for tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) start date and 27% for completion date; and 49% for HIV viral load (VL) test results. Overall, 264,289 (63%) of the charts reviewed had gaps in demographic and/or clinical data completeness. After the intervention, a remarkable improvement was observed in data completeness in the assessed variables. The data reported through DATIM was higher than that reported though EMR-ART, but the difference progressively declined from a baseline of 4,544 in quarter 2 (January-March of 2019) to 405 in quarter 1 (October-December) of 2020. There was no disparity in the count between the two sources during the subsequent quarters.

Keyphrases: Data Quality, Electronic Medical Records, information use, service providers

@booklet{EasyChair:7711,
  author    = {Bedri Mumme and Jemal Hassen and Naod Wendrad and Biniyam Eskinder and Sileshi Lulseged and Aklilu Asrat and Desalegn Bekedami and Sisay Alemayehu and Zenebe Melaku and Dereje Habte and Richard Mitchell and Sarina Dane and Tiffany Harris},
  title     = {Electronic Medical Record System Improves Antiretroviral Treatment Data Quality  and Use: Experience from 111 Health Facilities in Ethiopia},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 7711},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2022}}