Effect of a proposed intervention programme designed to improve reporting of oral health care in government hospitals in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This interventional study was conducted to find out the effect of the proposed modified recording and reporting system designed to improve reporting of oral health care in government hospitals in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted in two clinical set-ups: namely OPO dental clinics providing routine dental care and OPD dental clinics providing special dental care. The interventions were the introduction of modified recording and reporting system and the training of the service providers. The main indicator to assess the effectiveness was the quality of recording and reporting of data in the modified recording and reporting system. Assessment of the effectiveness of the quality of the modified recording and reporting system introduced to OPD Dental Clinics providing routine dental care, was measured by comparing it with the quality of the existing recording and reporting system. The effectiveness of the training programme for Dental Surgeons was assessed in don to their knowledge and attitude towards the recording and reporting system using selfadministered questionnaire. The results obtained from pre and post interventional assessments of knowledge and attitude of those Dental Surgeons working in experimental and control areas, towards the recording and reporting system were compared to assess the effectiveness. Training programme for Dental Surgeons was effective as significant improvements were noted in relation to the overall knowledge as well as the overall attitude of the Dental Surgeons in the experimental area after the intervention. These findings identify the need for in-service training programmes linked with activities in which the knowledge could be applied. Modified recording and reporting system improved the quality information in the oral health information system of OPD dental clinics providing routine dental care. Improvements were noted in relation to several parameters assessing the quality, namely the availability, accuracy, completeness and legibility of Patient's OPD Tickets; the accuracy, completeness, legibility and timeliness of Daily Registers; and the accuracy and timeliness of the Monthly Reports. As there was no proper information system in the OPD dental clinics providing special dental care prior to the intervention, the results obtained from these clinics in this study were fairly satisfactory. This can be further improved