Performance management in primary healthcare: Nurses' experiences

Characterising the performance measurement and management system in the primary health care systems of Malawi

BACKGROUND

 Performance Measurement and Management (PMM) systems are levers that support key management functions in health care systems. Just like many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Malawi strives to improve performance via evidence-based decision making and a suitable performance culture.

AIM

 This study sought to describe PMM practices at all levels of primary health care (PHC) in Malawi.

SETTING

 This study targeted three levels of PHC, namely the district health centres (DHCs), the zones, and the ministry headquarters.

METHODS

 This was a qualitative exploratory research study where decision-makers at each level of PHC were engaged using key-informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGDs).

RESULTS

 We found that there is a weak link among levels of PHC in supporting PMM practices leading to poor dissemination of priorities and goals. There is also failure to appropriately institute good PMM practices, and the use of performance information was found to be limited among decision-makers.

CONCLUSION

 Though PMM is acknowledged to be key in supporting health service delivery systems, Malawi's PHC system has not fully embarked on making this a priority. Some challenges include unsupportive culture and inadequate capacity for PMM.Contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of the PMM processes in Malawi and further highlights the salient challenges in the use of information for performance management. While the presence of policies on PMM is acknowledged, implementation studies that deal with challenges are urgent and imperative.

Management technology for implementing the Systematization of Nursing Care

OBJECTIVE

To describe the construction of a management technology aimed at implementing the Systematization of Nursing Care in nursing services.

METHOD

This is a methodological, qualitative and explanatory study, based on the normative and legal framework of COFEN Resolution 358/2009. It comprised the theoretical construction of instruments for practice anchored in the literature and expertise of a group of 40 nurses, between April 2020 and June 2021.

RESULTS

The technology is outlined from the dimensions of method, personnel and nursing instruments that support the Systematization of Nursing Care tripod. It consists of an explanatory model of an operational management matrix and a checklist-type instrument for follow-up/monitoring of Systematization of Nursing Care management in services.

CONCLUSION

Management technology is inserted as a solution to improve organizational performance, health care, clinical decision support, planning, administration, organization of services and professional practice, and create favorable conditions for applying the Process of Nursing at its fullest.

Tecnologia gerencial para implementação da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a construção de uma tecnologia gerencial voltada à implementação da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem em serviços de enfermagem. Método: Estudo metodológico, qualitativo e explicativo, sustentado no referencial normativo e legal da Resolução COFEN nº 358/2009. Compreendeu a construção teórica de instrumentos para a prática ancorados na literatura e na expertise de um grupo de 40 enfermeiros, entre os meses de abril de 2020 e junho de 2021. Resultados: A tecnologia está delineada a partir das dimensões método, pessoal e instrumentos de enfermagem que sustentam o tripé da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem. É constituída por um modelo explicativo de uma matriz de gestão operacional e de um instrumento do tipo checklist para o acompanhamento/monitoramento da gestão da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem nos serviços. Conclusão A tecnologia gerencial se insere como uma solução para melhorar a performance organizacional, a atenção à saúde, o apoio às decisões clínicas, o planejamento, a administração, a organização dos serviços e a prática profissional, e criar condições favoráveis para a aplicação do Processo de Enfermagem em sua plenitude.