Question

Identify and explain at least 6 roles logistics management information systems play in healthcare delivery

The question demands at least 6 roles logistics management information systems play in healthcare delivery

Answer 1

The data quality of LMIS was measured using indicators such as accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.

1)

The data record accuracy measures whether stock balances on bin-cards are similar to the actual inventory on hand.

This can be determined using the following formula:

Record accuracy=(Ending balance on bincard−physical stock countsphysical stock counts∗100

2)

Accuracy in transferring data from records (e.g. bin-cards) to the LMIS reporting forms (e.g. RRFs) provides information on how well the health facilities are accurately tracking their inventories and transferring this information to the LMIS report forms. It is determined using the following formula;

Data transfer accuracy=(stock balance on RRFs−Ending balance on bin−cards Ending balance on bin−cards∗100

3)

The completeness of reports: Data from five major program drugs (i.e. HIV, opportunistic infection (OI), TB, malaria, and family planning included in the RRF) were used to check the completeness of the reports. A report is considered complete if all the columns for each product listed in the report are filled in for at least one product listed under each program unless the facility does not manage the product [22].

4)

Timeliness: As per the integrated pharmaceutical logistics system (IPLS) of Ethiopia, A report is said to be timely submitted if,

The health centers directly submit their RRF to the higher supplier (PFSA) until the 10th day after the reporting period or if they submit to woreda health office until the 5th day after the reporting period and

The hospitals submit their reports to pharmaceutical fund and supply agency (PFSA) or regional health bureau until the 10th day after the reporting period [8]

5)

Facility reporting rates: The facility reporting rate was computed using the following formula (2).

Reporting rate=(number of facilities submitted their report in the specified schedule) a total number of facilities expected to submit their report∗100

Data collection procedures

Semi-structured questionnaires and checklists adapted from USAID deliver guidelines were used to collect the necessary data. Socio-demographic data, facilities’ reporting rates, availability and utilization of reporting and recording formats, data quality of RRF & bin-cards and factors associated with LMIS performance were collected. The data were gathered through a physical count of drugs, review of relevant documents, and interview of the health facility store managers and pharmacy heads. Regarding document review, logistic reports of one year and recording tools (bin-cards) on the day of the visit were evaluated.

Data processing & analysis

A statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used to encode and analyze data. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done and the outputs were then summarized using tables & figures. A chi-square test was run to determine the associations between the dependent and independent variables. A critical values p < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

For the qualitative study

Eleven face to face in-depth interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The participants had experience of greater than 5 years in health logistics management. Currently, storekeepers and pharmacy heads of the public health facilities in Ethiopia play the lion’s share of logistics management practice. Therefore, six storekeepers and five pharmacy heads were selected based on their service experience. The interviews were conducted by one of the researchers to maintain the consistency of information.Written informed consent was obtained from the participants to audiotape the interview. The interviews were conducted in a local language Afan Oromo, and it was tape recorded. The participants were asked in-depth and probing questions to get broad information on the topic of interest. Each interview on average took 20 min. The record was then transcribed to English language by the researchers and verified by two experts from Jimma University academic staffs. Then, the findings were analyzed manually using the thematic analysis technique. Accordingly, the authors familiarized themselves with the data by taking notes of the interview. The data were then coded by using a table in a word document. The coded data were organized to search for themes. The final step was naming and describing the themes and producing the report.

Data quality assurance

A pilot study was conducted in 5% of the facilities to check the data collection tools for its contents and any ambiguous questions. The facilities involved in pretest were excluded from the actual study. The data collectors were also trained for 30 min on how to complete the tools. On top of that, the principal investigators closely supervised the data collectors. Each time after data collection, the questionnaires were checked for completeness.

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