Agarwal M, Bourgeois J, Sodhi S, Matengeni A, Bezanson K, van Schoor V, van Lettow M. Updating a patient-level ART database covering remote health facilities in Zomba district, Malawi: lessons learned.
Public Health Action 2015;
3:175-9. [PMID:
26393023 DOI:
10.5588/pha.12.0096]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
SETTING
A non-governmental organization, Dignitas International, working in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Malawi, adopted innovative, low-technology methods to collect, capture, and manage patient-level antiretroviral therapy (ART) data in a district database covering 26 remote low-resource facilities in Zomba District, Malawi.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a longitudinal, observational database of routinely collected program data that could serve as a program monitoring and evaluation tool as well as a platform to conduct effective operational research.
DESIGN
This article describes the processes developed for digital capture of paper-based ART clinical records at health facilities and updating them in a central electronic database. It documents and focuses on lessons learned during the implementation and review of processes.
CONCLUSIONS
Data quality can only be ensured with regular review of, and compliance with, clearly delineated workflow protocols and adequate staffing and supervision. Through the implementation of this procedure, we expect to improve data quality, completeness, and use of routine ART clinical data in low-resource settings.
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