KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND LEVEL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION BY HEALTH INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN CALABAR URBAN, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Adie Justine Akunke*, Bassey Isaac and Ofor Inyang Igri

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate attitude, knowledge and level of utilization of information, communication technology (ICT) in hospitals in Calabar Metropolis, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose, the basic structures for the study were identified, the research objectives were streamlined. Three research questions were framed and three hypotheses formulated for the study. A well designed questionnaire was prepared and one hundred and twenty copies were printed and distributed to respondents in the sampled hospitals for completion. The completed copies of the questionnaire were collected back for analysis. The data were extracted from the questionnaire and place in tabular form to ease percentage analysis. Chi – square statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and the result of the study revealed a positive relationship. The following recommendations were suggested for implementation; the various units of the hospitals where data are generated should be provided with computers to ensure that data are captured; Computers and other health information systems should be provided to Health Information Management Department which is the hub of all hospital activities and the custodian of patients health information for computation of health data; the health information management staff engaged in data management activities should be train/ retrain in Information Technology, so that they can be more efficient in their work.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Utilization and Information, Communication Technology.