Validation of the Process and Results of an Information System in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Background: The needs of information for the Primary Health Care Centers planning and management, and the poor situation we started from, have generated a large amount of information systems, which, as a general rule, have not been sufficiently evaluated. Since 1986, in the Area de Gestión, 7, Centro, of the ICS here exists an information system of the General Medicine Services with a sampling method (ANAC-2). The validation of some aspects of the process and content is shown in order to evaluate the quality of information. Methods: The problems arisen during the process of collecting data from nine centers are analized during six months and its information content is compared with the one of each system with a standard respect their value. To evaluate the concordante, we have used a graphic representation of the differences of each system with a standard respect their mean value, and the ?limits of agreement?. Results: On relation with the problems of collecting data, two centers show a nonfulfillement of the observation calendar higher than 20% and the logical divergences are not important. The kind of visits distribution is quite correct, even if the estimate of the whole number of visits is higher than 20% in two centers. In the activity indicators, the System of Referente has a tendency to give average values lower than the ANAC-2, with the exception of prescription/visit. In referrals and prescriptions, the use of different sources of information between systems produces an average difference of 3.3 interconsults /100 visits and 0.8 prescriptions/visit respectively. Generally, the limits of agreement are wide and become unacceptable in laboratory. Conclusions: The study carried out is evaluated positively, for it dete& the problematical areas which can be modified or require further studies. The importance of validating the information systems is emphasized, in spite of difIiculties.