TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding health information needs and gaps in the health care system in uttar pradesh, India
AU - Kapadia-Kundu, Nandita
AU - Sullivan, Tara M.
AU - Safi, Basil
AU - Trivedi, Geetali
AU - Velu, Sanjanthi
N1 - Funding Information:
This needs assessment activity and report could not have been accomplished without the hard work of the authors’ outstanding colleagues in India, Heather Sanders, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP) and Santosh Singh, O.P. Pandey, and Sridevi from the Sigma Research Agency. The authors also acknowledge the contributions and support of Doug Storey (JHU-CCP), Heer Chokshi (formerly with JHU-CCP, and Meenakshi Dikshit (JHU-CCP). The contributions of those who ably prepared background material for this report are hereby gratefully acknowledged, as are the supportive efforts of the United States Agency for International Development– India Population, Health, and Nutrition Division. The authors thank Vanessa Mitchell (JHU-CCP) and Elsie Mwaniki (JHU-CCP) for their support throughout this study. The authors gratefully acknowledge the editorial assistance of Ward Rinehart (Jura Editorial Services) and Ruwaida Salem (JHU-CCP). K4Health is supported by the Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development, Cooperative Agreement No. GPO-A-00-08-00006-00. The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Agency for International Development or of the U.S. government.
Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/6/1
Y1 - 2012/6/1
N2 - Health information and the channels that facilitate the flow and exchange of this information to and among health care providers are key elements of a strong health system that offers high-quality services,yet few studies have examined how health care workers define, obtain, and apply information in the course of their daily work. To better understand health information needs and barriers across all of levels of the health care system, the authors conducted a needs assessment in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Data collection consisted of 46 key informant interviews and 9 focus group discussions. Results of the needs assessment pointed to the following themes: (a) perceptions or definitions of health information related to daily tasks performed at different levels of the health system; (b) information flow in the public health structure; (c) need for practical information; and (d) criteria for usability of information. This needs assessment found that health information needs vary across the health system in Uttar Pradesh. Information needs are dynamic and encompass programmatic and service delivery information. Providing actionable information across all levels is a key means to strengthen the health system and improve the quality of services. An adequate assessment of health information needs, including opportunities, barriers, and gaps, is a prerequisite to designing effective communication of actionable information.
AB - Health information and the channels that facilitate the flow and exchange of this information to and among health care providers are key elements of a strong health system that offers high-quality services,yet few studies have examined how health care workers define, obtain, and apply information in the course of their daily work. To better understand health information needs and barriers across all of levels of the health care system, the authors conducted a needs assessment in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Data collection consisted of 46 key informant interviews and 9 focus group discussions. Results of the needs assessment pointed to the following themes: (a) perceptions or definitions of health information related to daily tasks performed at different levels of the health system; (b) information flow in the public health structure; (c) need for practical information; and (d) criteria for usability of information. This needs assessment found that health information needs vary across the health system in Uttar Pradesh. Information needs are dynamic and encompass programmatic and service delivery information. Providing actionable information across all levels is a key means to strengthen the health system and improve the quality of services. An adequate assessment of health information needs, including opportunities, barriers, and gaps, is a prerequisite to designing effective communication of actionable information.
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U2 - 10.1080/10810730.2012.666625
DO - 10.1080/10810730.2012.666625
M3 - Article
C2 - 22724670
AN - SCOPUS:84863301869
VL - 17
SP - 30
EP - 45
JO - Journal of Health Communication
JF - Journal of Health Communication
SN - 1081-0730
IS - SUPPL. 2
ER -