Assessment of Basic Computer Skills Among Health Workers in Rural Health Unit in Lanao Del Sur: An Implication for an Increased Use of Information Technology in Service Delivery

Abstract

The advent of information technology has improved the delivery of healthcare worldwide especially in disease control, patient management, and health data analysis. However, access and knowledge in computer is a major problem to various digital health initiatives among health professionals. The aim of this study was, to assess health workers' basic computer skills such as (a) the ability to use Microsoft window, (b) the ability to use Microsoft word, (c) The ability to navigate the Internet for research and e-mail and (d) the ability to use spreadsheet software (most commonly Microsoft Excel); And to identify if there are specific deficiencies that require training to help them function effectively. Lastly, to be able to identify if there is an association between demographic profiles and basic computer skills. The method utilized in this study is a cross-sectional study design to assess basic computer skills and frequency of using computer programs among health workers in Rural Health Unit using a standard survey questionnaire. The major findings sought that most of the respondents had adequate basic computer skills, of which 69.1% were nurses, 29.1% were midwives and only 1.8% were medical technologist. Moreover, health workers in the rural health unit may not need to be trained on basic computer skills, thus an implication had also been disclosed that there is an increased use of information technology in service delivery in Rural Health Units.