Feasibility and utility of Point-of-Care electronic clinical data capture in Uganda’s healthcare system: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess Uganda’s readiness for implementing a national Point-of-Care (PoC) electronic clinical data capture platform that can function in near real-time. Methods: A qualitative, cross-sectional design was adopted to obtain a snapshot of Uganda’s eHealth system landscape with an aim to assess the readiness for implementing PoC platform. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select the study districts per region, health facilities per district, and participants per facility or district. Results: Nine facilitators were identified, including health worker motivation to serve the community, affirmative action on eHealth financing, improved integrating information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, Internet and electricity power connectivity, improved human resource skills and knowledge, the culture of sensitizing and training of stakeholders on eHealth interventions, the perceived value of the platform, health workers’ motivation to improve health data quality, interest to improve data use, and continuous improvement in the eHealth regulatory environment. Other suggestions entailed several requirements that must be met, including infrastructure, eHealth governance, human resources, as well as functional and data requirements. Discussion: Uganda, like other low-income countries, has adopted ICT to help solve some of its health system challenges. Although several challenges face eHealth implementations in Uganda, this study revealed facilitators that can be leveraged and requirements that, if met, would facilitate the successful implementation of a near real-time data capture platform capable of improving the country’s health outcomes. Conclusion: Other countries with eHealth implementations similar to those faced in Uganda can also leverage identified facilitators and address the stakeholders’ requirements. Key words: eHealth, electronic clinical data capture, feasibility, healthcare system, Point-of-Care