Data quality and data use in primary health care: A case study from Iran

Abstract

Informed decision-making in Primary Health Care (PHC) is a foundation of universal health coverage, and depends on high-quality data. This study explores the perception of primary healthcare workers on data quality and data use in a northern Iranian city. A cross-sectional study was conducted with participation of 348 healthcare workers in urban and rural PHC centers of Rasht city. The data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Then SPSS statistics software was employed for the analysis process. The mean score of data quality and data use were 6.43 ± 1.68 and 5.89 ± 2.18 out of 10, respectively. Data accessibility (7.10 ± 1.88) and data accuracy (5.88 ± 2.18) had the highest and lowest mean scores from the workers' perspective. The volume of the data collected, frequency of training program on HIS, supervision and providing feedback, and the existence of incentive mechanism were associated with data quality and data use. In these settings, the overall perceived data quality and data use were at a relatively desirable level. Reducing the amount of the data collected training health workers on data management, supportive supervision, constructive feedback, and developing incentive mechanisms will improve the data quality and data use in the PHC centers.

Keywords

• Data quality
• Data use
• Primary health care