Relative advantages and compatibility of a biometric patient identification tool in Zambia: a qualitative analysis

Gates Open Research

article

Polina Lissin¹  Arnold Hamapa²  Misaki Kobayashi¹  Joshua Smith-Sreen¹  Lauren Etter¹  Rachel Pieciak¹  Euphrasia Mukuka²  Joseph Mumba Zulu²  Charles Michelo²  Lawrence Mwananyanda³  Chris J. Gill¹ 

[1] Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health;University of Zambia School of Public Health;Right to Care Zambia

关键词: global health;    patient identification;    relative advantage;    sociocultural barriers;    compatibility;    electronic medical records;    data management;   

DOI  :  10.12688/gatesopenres.13265.1

学科分类：电子与电气工程

来源: American Journal Of Pharmtech Research

【 摘 要 】

Background: The Scanning Ears for Child Health (SEARCH) system is a biometric patient identification tool which uses a pattern recognition algorithm to translate an image of the ear into a unique identifier. If integrated into an electronic medical records (EMR) system, it would provide a patient identification solution that replaces unreliable paper, under-five card (UFC), or number-based identifiers. This study aims to understand the relative advantage of the biometric system, the sociocultural and pragmatic compatibility, and the extent of UFC deterioration over time. Methods: Interviews on impressions of the novel biometric patient identification tool were conducted in urban and rural settings in Zambia. Focus group discussions included 59 participants and key informant interviews included 5 healthcare workers and 2 government officials. Transcripts were coded into thematic categories for analysis. We sought to understand 1) the perceived relative advantage of a biometric system over the traditional UFCs among Zambian mothers, 2) the perceived sociocultural compatibility of a biometric system in the healthcare setting, and 3) pragmatic compatibility of the proposed system. Results: We found that the current UFC system presents issues for continuity of care and quality of data management, therefore posing disadvantages relative to the proposed system. Sociocultural and pragmatic barriers to acceptance included the existing fear of Satanism and electrical power issues throughout Zambia. Mothers and healthcare workers expressed that adoption of the biometric system could be successful given efforts to sensitize the community. Conclusions: Switching to an EMR backed by biometric identification would fill a critical gap in Zambian healthcare information systems and has numerous perceived advantages in both urban and rural settings. We determine that strategies for implementation should be localized, context informed, and conducted by trusted community members with knowledge of best approaches to diffusing information and a deep understanding of the novel biometric system.

【 授权许可】

CC BY