ICT Influence on the healthcare sector in the Niger Delta region: ICT policy at an organizational level

Figures & data

Table 1. Personnel views of ICT in healthcare delivery.

Item	Strongly disagree (%)	Disagree (%)	Uncertain (%)	Agree (%)	Strongly agree (%)	N	Mean	Standard Deviation	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)
PV1: Manpower is never a challenge to present-day healthcare delivery in the Niger Delta	146(59.3)	59(24)	6(2.4)	23(9.3)	12(4.9)	246	1.76	1.175	−16.494	245	.000
PV2: Staffs’ laisser-faire attitude is responsible for the decline in healthcare delivery in the region	41(17.3)	54(22.8)	50(21.1)	64(27)	28(11.8)	237	2.93	1.290	−.805	236	.421
PV3: I think that staff need assistance in using the Health Information System (HIS)	13(5.5)	15(6.4)	27(11.5)	118(50.2)	62(26.4)	235	3.86	1.056	12.413	234	.000
PV4: Staff may need to be motivated to learn to use the system or be trained on some computer applications	20(8.2)	7(2.9)	14(5.7)	99(40.6)	104(42.6)	244	4.07	1.156	14.394	243	.000
PV5: Our health professionals are comfortable with the use of ICT	26(10.5)	61(24.7)	77(31.2)	59(23.9)	24(9.7)	247	2.98	1.140	−.335	246	.738
PV6: There is a general unwillingness to change among staff	50(20.4)	73(29.8)	52(21.2)	51(20.8)	19(7.8)	245	2.66	1.233	−4.351	244	.000
PV7: Barriers to ICT applications in healthcare delivery are based purely on too much familiarity with the old system	51(20.6)	63(25.4)	42(16.9)	64(25.8)	28(11.3)	248	2.82	1.327	−2.154	247	.032
PV8: Staff in the junior cadre are more conversant with the use of ICT	46(18.6)	59(23.9)	49(19.8)	62(25.1)	31(12.6)	247	2.89	1.316	−1.305	246	.193
PV9: Consultants are readily available to teach new and available ICT techniques	60(24.2)	75(30.2)	66(26.6)	32(12.9)	15(6)	248	2.46	1.166	−7.245	247	.000
PV10: Staff are generally excited at the discovery of new ICT techniques	12(4.9)	28(11.3)	70(28.3)	103(41.7)	34(13.8)	247	3.48	1.023	7.398	246	.000
PV11: All consultants in our health facility are familiar with the latest ICT techniques	37(15)	80(32.5)	78(31.7)	34(13.8)	17(6.9)	246	2.65	1.106	−4.956	245	.000
PV12: I have a certificate from an ICT training facility	59(24.3)	83(34.2)	23(9.5)	50(20.6)	28(11.5)	243	2.61	1.354	−4.500	242	.000

Table 2. Perceptions of ICT infrastructure and policy management.

Item	Strongly disagree (%)	Disagree (%)	Uncertain (%)	Agree (%)	Strongly agree (%)	N	Mean	Standard Deviation	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)
ITPM1: IT facilities are very available in our health facility	84(34)	80(32.4)	33(13.4)	35(14.2)	15(6.1)	247	2.26	1.235	−9.426	246	.000
ITPM2: We have a reliable Internet connection in my office	114(46)	73(29.4)	23(9.3)	23(9.3)	15(6)	248	2.00	1.214	−12.972	247	.000
ITPM3: I use my personal modem to connect to the Internet during work hours	43(17.4)	65(26.3)	21(8.5)	59(23.9)	59(23.9)	247	3.11	1.467	1.128	246	.260
ITPM4: I use the Internet provided in my office during work hours	129(52.7)	70(28.6)	16(6.5)	19(7.8)	11(4.5)	245	1.83	1.132	−16.194	244	.000
ITPM5: There is a functional broadband network facility in our health facility	97(39.6)	68(27.8)	39(15.9)	25(10.2)	16(6.5)	245	2.16	1.237	−10.586	244	.000
ITPM6: We have a functional Local Area Network in my health facility	88(35.6)	68(27.5)	47(19)	34(13.8)	10(4)	247	2.23	1.189	−10.167	246	.000
ITPM7: The computers I work with are connected to the Local Area Network	122(50.4)	56(23.1)	28(11.6)	31(12.8)	5(2.1)	242	1.93	1.148	−14.498	241	.000
ITPM8: Personal Computers or laptops are readily available to staff in our health facility	133(53.2)	66(26.4)	20(8)	15(6)	16(6.4)	250	1.86	1.189	−15.158	249	.000
ITPM9: Lopsided policy and implementation is responsible for the slow pace of growth in healthcare delivery	32(13.1)	40(16.4)	48(19.7)	73(29.9)	51(20.9)	244	3.29	1.321	3.440	243	.001
ITPM10: Power supply is never a challenge to our healthcare delivery	131(52.4)	58(23.2)	18(7.2)	22(8.8)	21(8.4)	250	1.98	1.308	−12.381	249	.000
ITPM11: Faulty infrastructure is responsible for inefficiency in healthcare delivery in our heath facility	35(14.2)	28(11.3)	40(16.2)	83(33.6)	61(24.7)	247	3.43	1.350	5.041	246	.000
ITPM12: Available ICT tools are relatively old/obsolete and due for recycling	28(11.4)	40(16.3)	67(27.3)	59(24.1)	51(20.8)	245	3.27	1.277	3.253	244	.001
ITPM13: There is poor ICT management in my healthcare facility	25(10.2)	33(13.5)	42(17.2)	74(30.3)	70(28.7)	244	3.54	1.309	6.404	243	.000
ITPM14: There is no ICT infrastructure recycling policy in my healthcare facility	18(7.3)	31(12.6)	67(27.2)	68(27.6)	62(25.2)	246	3.51	1.205	6.616	245	.000
ITPM15: Acquisition of ICT tools is done centrally by the acquisition unit	31(12.8)	31(12.8)	126(51.9)	41(16.9)	14(5.8)	243	2.90	1.016	−1.516	242	.131
ITPM16: Operational software is often externally sourced. No in-house software development	21(8.8)	23(9.6)	131(54.8)	33(13.8)	31(13)	239	3.13	1.046	1.856	238	.065

Table 3. Perceptions of e-health solutions.

Item	Strongly disagree (%)	Disagree (%)	Uncertain (%)	Agree (%)	Strongly agree (%)	N	Mean	Standard Deviation	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)
EHS1: I am very conversant with e-health (electronic health) solutions	47(19.2)	78(31.8)	47(19.2)	47(19.2)	26(10.6)	245	2.70	1.273	−3.664	244	.000
EHS2: I support the introduction of e-health solutions in healthcare delivery	15(6.1)	10(29.4)	18(7.3)	87(35.4)	116(47.2)	246	4.13	1.115	15.954	245	.000
EHS9: I believe that there are benefits to ICT applications in rural healthcare centers	35(14.2)	17(6.9)	57(23.1)	89(36.0)	49(19.8)	247	3.40	1.278	4.980	246	.000
EHS11: The e-health card is essential and will assist in healthcare delivery	23(9.7)	12(5.0)	69(29.0)	99(41.6)	35(14.7)	238	3.47	1.109	6.491	237	.000
EHS14: If properly implemented, e-health will be beneficial to patients and doctors	8(3.3)	19(7.8)	39(16.0)	102(41.8)	76(31.1)	244	3.90	1.035	13.543	243	.000
EHS15: The Niger Delta will benefit from e-health, irrespective of its peculiar nature	10(4.1)	17(6.9)	70(28.5)	97(39.4)	52(21.1)	246	3.67	1.016	10.296	245	.000
EHS16: E-health will contribute to quality healthcare delivery	7(2.9)	13(5.3)	46(18.9)	110(45.1)	68(27.9)	244	3.90	.965	14.524	243	.000
EHS17: The e-health card should be made available to every citizen in the Niger Delta	7(2.9)	17(7.1)	48(19.9)	105(43.6)	64(26.6)	241	3.84	.993	13.103	240	.000
EHS18: An enabling ICT policy will contribute to the development of the healthcare sector	8(3.3)	11(4.5)	36(14.8)	103(42.2)	86(35.2)	244	4.02	.990	16.045	243	.000

Table 4. Perception of ICT infrastructure in the hospitals.

	N	Mean	Std. Deviation	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)	Mean Difference
INFRASTRUCTURE_ADEQ	250	2.0827	.85654	−16.934	249	.000	−.91733
e-Health_FUNCTION	248	2.7070	.85672	−5.386	247	.000	−.29301
e-Health_AWARENESS	249	2.8059	.95357	−3.212	248	.001	−.19411
e-Health_DISADVANTAGE	246	2.6098	.94012	−6.511	245	.000	−.39024
e-Health_USEFULNESS	247	3.8552	.84263	15.951	246	.000	.85520