Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project aims to explore the information technology tools utilized by academic staff at a Federal University to assess health information. The study focuses on investigating the extent to which various IT tools are employed by academic staff for accessing, analyzing, and disseminating health information. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and interviews to gather data from a sample of academic staff members at the Federal University. The increasing reliance on IT tools in the academic environment necessitates an understanding of their usage patterns, challenges, and potential benefits in accessing health information. By examining the specific IT tools favored by academic staff, this research intends to provide insights into the preferences and needs of users when it comes to accessing health-related information. Additionally, the study seeks to identify any gaps in the current use of IT tools among academic staff and explore potential areas for improvement. Through the survey component of the research, data will be collected on the types of IT tools commonly employed by academic staff, the frequency of their usage, and the purposes for which they are utilized in accessing health information. The survey will also gather feedback on the perceived effectiveness of these IT tools and any challenges faced by academic staff in utilizing them for health information assessment. Complementing the survey data, interviews will be conducted with a subset of academic staff to delve deeper into their experiences with using IT tools for health information assessment. These interviews will provide qualitative insights into the motivations, preferences, and barriers associated with the adoption of IT tools in the academic context. By triangulating the survey results with interview findings, this research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the role of IT tools in supporting academic staff in accessing health information. The outcomes of this research project are expected to shed light on the current landscape of IT tool usage among academic staff at the Federal University in assessing health information. The findings may have implications for the design of training programs, resource allocation, and technological support initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity of academic staff to leverage IT tools effectively for health information assessment. Ultimately, this research seeks to contribute to the optimization of IT tool utilization in the academic setting, particularly concerning health information access and evaluation.

Thesis Overview

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.0  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Unassailable and reliable information is the foundation of decision-making across all health system building blocks, and is essential for health system policy development and implementation, governance and regulation, health research, human resources development, health education and training, service delivery and financing (Stansfield, 2005).The health information offers the underpinnings for decision-making and has four key functions including data generation, compilation, analysis and synthesis, and communication and use. The health information data from the health sector and other relevant sectors, analyses the data and ensures their overall quality, relevance and timeliness, and converts data into information for health-related decision-making (Stansfield, 2005).

The health information is sometimes equated with monitoring and evaluation but this is too reductionist a perspective. In addition to being essential for monitoring and evaluation, the health information also serves broader ends, providing an alert and early warning capability,supporting patient and health facility management, enabling planning, supporting and stimulating research, permitting health situation and trends analysis, supporting global reporting, and underpinning communication of health challenges to diverse users. Information is of little value if it is not available in formats that meet the needs of multiple users − policy-makers, planners, managers,health care providers, communities, individuals (Stansfield, 2005). Therefore, dissemination and communication are essential attributes and uses of the health information.Health planners need different kinds of information including health determinants (socio-economic, environmental behavioural, genetic factors) and the contextual environments within which the health system operates;inputs to the health system and related processes including policy and organization, health infrastructure, facilities and equipment, costs, human and financial resources, health information;the performance or outputs of the health information such as availability, accessibility, quality and use of health information and services, responsiveness of the system to user needs, and financial risk protection ;health outcomes (mortality, morbidity, disease outbreaks, health status, disability, well being); and health inequities, in terms of determinants, coverage of use of services, and health outcomes, and including key stratifiers such as sex, socio-economic status, ethnic group, geographic location etc.A good health information system brings together all relevant partners to ensure that users of health information have access to reliable, authoritative, useable, understandable, comparative data.

Assessment of health information in recent times has been made easy by the advent and development of information technology. The use of information technology tools in the assessment of health information has created a fast, accurate and reliable platform for the collection of health data. Information technology (IT) is the utilization of computers to store, study, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data, or information, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. IT is considered a subset of information and communications technology (ICT). Bynum (2012) proposed an ICT hierarchy where each hierarchy level contain some degree of commonality in that they are related to technologies that facilitate the transfer of information and various types of electronically mediated communications

Information technology is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones (Daintith, 2009). General health assessment can also be achieved with the use of information technology toolsincluding computer hardware, medical software, electronics, semiconductors, internet, telecom equipment, and automated monitors (blood pressure monitor) and non-contact tonometer for the assessment of eye intraocular pressure (Daintith, 2009).

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Health information help multiple users and a wide array of purposes that can be summarized as the generation of information regarding the individual well-being (mentally, socially and physical) to enable decision-making at all levels of the health apparatus to identify problems and needs, make evidence-based findings and proper management for each scenario.

However, Nigeria is not left out of the waves of globalization and general adoption of information technology tools. The use of these tools is common among all classes of individuals in Nigeria. Entrepreneurs and civil servants including lecturers make use of information technology in carrying out their daily job duties. The researcher is therefore curious of identifying the information technology tools that is particularly used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information.

 

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To find out the information technology tools used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information.
2. To examine the effectiveness of the information technology tools used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information.
3. To analyze the factors limiting the use of the information technology tools in assessing health information among academic staff of federal university.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are information technology tools used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information?
2. What is the effectiveness of the information technology tools used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information?
3. What are the factors limiting the use of the information technology tools in assessing health information among academic staff of federal university?

1.5       HYPOTHESIS

HO: There is no significant use of information technology tools among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information

HA: There is significant use of information technology tools among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The results of this study will educate professionals and the general public on the use and effectiveness of information technology tools in assessing heath information.
2. This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of information technology tools used among academic staff of federal university in assessing health information, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.7       SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to University of Benin, which is a federal university located in Edo State. It will also cover the lecturer’s use of information technology tools in assessing health information.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.