Information use operational definition

Health Information use is defined as making different health decisions, like policymaking, program
planning, management, or service provision, based on evidence, and it was measured by the data
used in the Indian health sector [15]. Information use was assessed using 12 “Yes” or “No” questions
based on techniques for evaluating the data used in the Indian health sector. The variable was given
the values “1" for “Yes” and “0" for “No.” The minimum and maximum scores were “0" and “12,”
respectively, and in the range of 0–12, “63.1%" was determined as the cut point or score based on
this. Participants with scores below (63.1%) were considered to have poor information utilization,
while participants with scores above (63.1%) were considered to have good information utilization
[16].

Check list

RHIS Performance Diagnostic Tool

Use of Information: Facility Assessment Form
Date: Name of assessor:
Facility Name: Name of respondent and title:

Facility Type: District:

RHIS report production
FU1 Does this facility compile RHIS Data? 1.Yes 0.No
FU2 Does the facility compile any report containing RHIS information? 1.Yes 0.No If no , go to
UI4
FU3 If yes, please list reports that contain data/information generated through the RHIS.
Please indicate the frequency of these reports and the number of times the reports
actually were issued during the last 12 months. Please confirm the issuance of the report
by counting them and putting the number in column 3.
1. Title of the report 2. No. of 3. No. of times this
times this report actually has
report is been issued during
supposed to the last 12 months
be issued per
year
FU3a
FU3b
FU3c
FU3d
FU4 During the last three month, did the facility receive any feedback 1.Yes 0. No
report from district office on their performance?
Display of information
FU5 Does the facility display the following data? Please indicate types of data displayed and If no go to
whether the data have been updated for the last reporting period. FU6
1. Indicator 2. Type of display (Please tick) 3. Updated
FU5a Related to maternal health Table 1.Yes 0.No
Graph/Chart
Map/other
FU5b Related to child health Table 1.Yes 0.No
Graph/Chart
Map/other
FU5c Facility Utilization Table 1.Yes 0.No
Graph/Chart
Map/other
FU5d Disease surveillance Table 1.Yes 0.No
Graph/Chart
Map/other
FU6 Does the facility have a map of the catchment area? 1.Yes 0.No
FU7 Does the office display a summary of demographic information 1.Yes 0.No
such as population by target group(s)?
FU8 Is feedback, quarterly, yearly or any other report on RHIS data 1.Yes 0.No If no go to
available, which provides guidelines/ recommendations for actions? FU10
FU9 If you answered yes to question DU8, what kinds of action-oriented decisions have been
made in the reports (based on RHIS data)? Please check the boxes accordingly
Types of decisions based on types of analyses
FU9a Review strategy by examining service performance target and actual 1.Yes 0.No
performance from month to month
FU9b Review facility personnel responsibilities by comparing service targets 1.Yes 0.No
and actual performance from month to month
FU9c Mobilization/shifting of resources based on comparison by services 1.Yes 0.No
FU9d Advocacy for more resources by showing gaps in ability to meet targets 1.Yes 0.No
Discussion and Decision based on RHIS information
FU10 Does the facility have routine meetings for reviewing managerial or 1.Yes 0.No If no,
administrative matters? go to
FU15
FU11 How frequently is the meeting supposed to take place?

4. weekly 3. After every two weeks 2. monthly 1. quarterly 0. no schedule

FU12 How many times did the meeting actually take place during the last three months?

12. 12 times 11. Between 7 and 11 6. 6 times 5. Either 4 or 5 3. 3 times

2. 2 times 1. 1 time 0. none

FU13 Is an official record of management meetings maintained? 1.Yes 0.No If no,

go to
FU15
FU14 If yes, please check the meeting records for the last three months to see if the following
topics were discussed:
FU14a Management of RHIS, such as data quality, reporting, or 1.Yes, observed 0. No
timeliness of reporting
FU14b Discussion on RHIS findings such as patient utilization, 1.Yes, observed 0. No
disease data, or service coverage, medicine stock out
FU14c Have they made any decisions based on the above 1.Yes, observed 0. No
discussions?
FU14d Has any follow-up action taken place regarding the decisions 1.Yes, observed 0. No
made during the previous meetings?
FU14e Are there any RHIS related issues or problems that were 1.Yes, observed 0. No
referred to the district or regional level for actions?
Promotion and Use of RHIS information by the district/higher level
FU15 Observed facility received annual/monthly planned targets based on 1.Yes 0.No
RHIS information
FU16 Do facility records for the last three months show that district/senior 1.Yes 0.No
management issued directives concerning the use of information

FU17 Did the facility receive a district or national RHIS office newsletter or 1.Yes 0.No
report in last three months giving examples of use of information
FU18 Does documentation exist showing the use information for advocacy 1.Yes 0.No
purposes?
FU19 Did the person in charge of the facility participate in meetings at district 1.Yes 0.No
level to discuss RHIS performance for the last three months?
FU20: Please give examples of how the facility uses RHIS information for health system management
0. No examples 1. Yes (details follows)
 Supervision by the district health office
FU21 How many times did the district supervisor visit your facility during 0. If zero, go to
the last three months? (check the answer) 1. FU26
2
3.
4. >3
FU22 Did you observe a supervisor having a checklist to assess the data 1.Yes 0.No
quality?
FU23 Did the supervisor check the data quality? 1.Yes 0.No
FU24 Did the district supervisor discuss performance of health facilities 1.Yes 0.No
based on RHIS information when he/she visited your facility?
FU25 Did the supervisor help you make a decision based on information 1.Yes 0.No
from the RHIS?
FU26 Did the supervisor send a report/feedback/note on the last two 1.Yes 0.No
supervisory visits?
FU27
FU28
FU29
FU30
FU31