Computer science and local health systems: Creating a simulacrum for evaluating local health system needs: A qualitative research paper

Bien Eli Nillos

College

College of Liberal Arts

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

This qualitative research presents a new tool for assessing local health system needs patterned after a computer set-up. Efforts to develop an evaluation system to assess local public health needs of the municipality of Candoni, Negros Occidental were initiated in 2007. The organizing framework for the proposed system of evaluation consisted of three core domains patterned after basic concepts from the field of Computer Science: mainly, Hardware, Software and Peopleware. Under each domain are listed the various factors and determinants of health. The proposed system was utilized to assess local health needs particularly on three problem areas: Maternal Mortality Ratio, Access to Essential Medicines and Incidence of Tuberculosis. Terminologies from the field of computer science applied in the field of public health are: hardware, which refers to the physical environment and logistics vital to the local health system; software, which refers to the policies, guidelines, legislative support and other person-to-person dynamics; and peopleware, which refers to the health workers, key actors and the community at large, focusing on their inventory of skills and knowledge important to the improvement of the local health system. The research proposes the use of this tool particularly for novice health managers and students in the field of public health as an easy and straightforward gauge in assessing the needs of a local health system, cognizant of the importance of socio-cultural factors affecting public health. Results of the study show that the easy identification of needs facilitated efficient planning and implementation of health programs that resulted to positive and sustainable outcomes in the identified problems.

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Disciplines

Computer Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

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