A Study of Records Management Practice at Health Facilities in Upper Denkyira West District of Ghana

Abstract

It is essential that information is captured, managed and preserved in an organised system that maintains its integrity and authenticity. This study examined records management practice at health facilities in Upper Denkyira West District of Ghana. The study used the mixed research method. That is, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for the study. The main research instruments used in the study were questionnaire and observation. Stratified random sampling was used to select 40 health staff and purposive sampling technique was used to select 20 staff at the records management unit and the total sample size was 60. The study revealed that improper records management significantly affected responsive, effective and quality health care services. Fifty percent of the respondents said that improper record management practice delays time, 25% said it affects quality of medical treatment, 8.3% said improper record keeping leads to divulging of confidential medical report. All respondents agreed that proper records management leads to easy retrieval and minimise patients’ waiting time at the hospital and promote continuity and quality health care delivery. The study recommended introduction of electronic records management practice and the need for engagement of professionally and competently qualified health information personnel and biostatisticians for all health facilities.

Keywords: Recording keeping, records management, health facility, health information,