Menu screenshot from OHASIS
Dates
2010-2015
Funded by:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Partner Organizations:
- Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, South Africa
- National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), South Africa
- National Health Laboratory System (NHLS),South Africa
- University of the Free State,South Africa
- Centre for Health Systems Research and Development,South Africa
- National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), South Africa
- National Health Laboratory System (NHLS),South Africa
Project Description
Building on experience in British Columbia, our Canadian-South African team has developed a state-of-the-art information system (OHASIS) to support making the health care sector a healthier place to work – in a setting (southern Africa) where risks such as HIV and TB are being experienced at the same time that migration of health workers to wealthy countries like Canada has grown.
This project evaluates how such a system can best be introduced to contribute to improving health – an issue that has attracted surprisingly little attention despite the widespread feeling that such innovations have failed to produce the benefits they had promised. We wish to distinguish whether those directly involved see such an information system as a valuable tool, as a weapon in service of other objectives, or as a “white elephant”, costing the healthcare system more than it is worth.
To answer this question, we will monitor how the information system is actually used, as well as conduct focus groups, in depth interviews, surveys and workplace audits to observe actual practices and outcomes, comparing and contrasting perceptions of different stakeholders groups.
