Data input, data processing practices and service delivery of health information personnel in tertiary hospitals in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Effectiveness of health information professionals has a lot of link with their service delivery level. A major factor that has been identified that will always boost the service delivery of health information professionals is the way and manner data is being processed. Deficiencies in data processing practices will results in questionable service delivery of health information professionals. It is in this regard that this study deemed it fit to investigate the influence of data processing practices on service delivery of health information professionals in tertiary institutions in Owerri, Imo state. The survey design was used. The targeted population consisted of 118 respondents sampled randomly from health information professionals in tertiary institutions in Owerri, Imo state. Total enumeration sampling technique was used.  A validated questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.74 was used as the instrument for data collection.  Response rate was 97.4%. The data were analyzed using descriptive and regression statistics. The study revealed that three out of the four component data processing practices (data input and data processing) significantly influenced service delivery ((R2 = 0.001; P >.05). The study recommended in the wake of the obstructive nature of technological innovations, For Health Information Professionals, there should be laid down rule regarding training and retraining so as to keep up with the pace.