EXAMINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS FOR RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN UGANDA
SYSTEMS THEORY
The systems theory developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1930s indicates that nothing could be understood by isolating merely one part of what plays a significant role in a system.
Kerzner, (1987) further indicated that when applied to organization , considers the organizations to be made of different sub-systems which are intergraded into whole , for example sub-systems in an information systems to meet set organizational goals in order to fulfill customer expectations and requirement.
Korzner, (1997) and Borciejet al, (2006) advance that systems operate as an open systems having a dynamic interplay with its sub components and also the environment where it gets resources for production thus it is influenced by other systems, due to the interaction that occurs at the interface, maintenance of stability is crucial during these interaction.
The systems theory focuses on the relation between different parts which make up the entity. Rather than reducing an entity systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and relations between the parts and how they work together as a whole. This theory also further indicates that the way the parts are organized and how they interact with each other, determines the properties of that system.
A system is defined as a complex and highly interlinked network of parts exhibiting synergistic properties-the whole is greater than the sum of its parts (Flood and Jackson, 1991). However according to (Schoderbek et al, 1985) and Checkland (1981) a system is defined as a set of objects together with relationships between the objects and between their attributes related to each other and to the environment so as to create or form a whole.
From the above definition of the systems theory it is therefore imperative to indicate that the research data management practices in health institutions in Uganda is affected by several factors and not only a single factor is responsible for the effective data management.
In relation to this study the systems theory points out that the organization is made of systems of which each have different effects on the entire entity, this therefore indicates that data management practices in Uganda are affected by many independent factors which affect the single factor of data management. In study in Uganda by Tomusange, Yoon and Mukasa, (2017), indicates that data sharing and reuse culture had not been fully developed noting numerous barrier which inhibited the practices. However, sharing and reuse practices ought to be understood from the data management perspective, since the ultimate goal of RDM is ensuring that data is accessible, sharable and reusable.
According to Mladovsky et al., (2015 and Tenopir et al., (2015), the challenges of data management are compounded by data storage problems, duplication of database, disorganized research resources and absence of mandatory local research data repository, in addition to limited skills to assess data quality for possible reuse, this indicates that there is no single factor that explains data management in a whole and therefore there are numerous factor.
It’s against this background that this theory will be used in examining the infrastructure readiness for research data management practices in health institutions in Uganda
1.2 Problem statement
Research data generated are outpacing the development of technical, social and organizational component, knowledge and skills necessary to manage them (Whitmire, Boock, & Sutton, 2015). Research data created is also crucial in discovering new knowledge to advance medical practices, to understand health and diseases and to improve healthcare and the health of populations ( Bull, 2016; Denny, et al., 2015; Guy & Ploeger, 2015). Thus, research data should to be managed and preserved for ongoing and for possible future reuse (Perrier et al., 2017; Tripathi, et al., 2016). The problem is research data cannot be fairly found, accessed, interoperated and reused and where it is available is of poor quality, incomplete or missing which makes it un-utilizable (Luyirika, 2019; Stover, et al., 2018; UNCST, 2014). This may be attributed to incoherent and inadequate RDM practices which pose a threat to academic research in Uganda. Indeed health research institutions in Uganda are conducting diverse and cutting-edge research which is generating enormous volumes of research data. However, they are operating in silos with tailored resources with no common standards for interoperability across institutions, nations and wide geographical areas (Star and Ruhleder, 1995). Niwagaba, 2017) further indicates that Uganda like other Sub-Saharan Africa still uses these paper records of their patients as a form of medical record and Even the summaries sent to their Ministries of Health are in a hard paper form. A few hospitals have started digitizing sections of their health data, but the road to paperless medical data system remains riddled with encumbrances, this has further led to poor record management systems in the different hospitals in Uganda.
Although there is growing international demands for FAIR data, Uganda has not adequately responded to this requirement which may ultimately disadvantage local researchers, health research institutions and society as a whole. Since it continues to be a challenge to locate, find, access, interoperate and reuse research data within and outside the research institutions (Vasilevsky, Minnier, Haendel, & Champieux, 2017; Vines et al., 2014; Jones, Ball, & Ekmekcioglu, 2008). The research institutions in Uganda like the TASO, Uganda National Council of Science and Technology, Uganda National Health Research Organization (UNHRO and UVRI which is supported and collaborates with both local and international partners to undertake health research in Uganda and is recognized as one of the few centers of excellence in health research in the region. However, though the institution is mandated to carry on Health research. Data management in the institution is currently reported to be poor and the organization.
Expensively collected research data is used only once, privately kept or shipped to collaborating institutions in the developed countries’ repositories, or discarded and or abandoned to obscurity (Mladovsky et al., 2015; Tenopir et al., 2015). The challenges are further compounded by data storage problems, duplication of database, disorganized research resources and absence of mandatory local research data repository, in addition to limited skills to assess data quality for possible reuse.
Well aware that existing research data resources present significant assets with limitless opportunities which require adopting and implementing RDM practices for benefit to researchers, society and health research institutions today and in future. However, it is essential to understand how researchers create, organize, share, preserve and reuse research data for benefits and to add values that impact practices, policies, and scientific knowledge (Shen, 2017).
It’s against this background that this theory will be used in examining the infrastructure readiness for research data management practices in health institutions in Uganda
1.3 Purpose of the study
To investigate the infrastructure readiness of health institutions in adapting RDM practices in Uganda.
1.4 Objectives
i) To assess the status of RDM practices in health institutions in Uganda
ii) To examine the technical, social norms and organizational practices associated with RDM practices in health institutions in Uganda
iii) To explore health researchers’’ perceptions towards adaption of RDM practices in health institutions in Uganda
iv) To identify the challenges of adopting RDM practices in health institutions in Uganda
v) To propose a RDM infrastructure framework for health institutions in Uganda.
1.5 Research Questions
i) What are the current status of RDM practices in Health institutions in Uganda?
ii) What are the technical components, social norms and organizational practices associated with RDM practices in health institutions in Uganda?
iii) What are the researchers’ perceptions towards adapting RDM practices in health institutes in Uganda?
iv) What are the challenges experienced in adapting RDM practices in health institutes in Uganda?
v) What nature of RDM infrastructure framework can be adapted for health institutions in Uganda?
CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK
Infrastructure readiness of health institutions in adapting RDM practices in Uganda.
Infrastructure readiness of health institutions (IV) RDM practices (DV)
Intervening variable
Source:
The conceptual frame work above indicates that infrastructure of Heal research institutions as an independent variable is measured by the following dimensions of ; Infrastructure systems which specifically include; Internet connection, Computers and laptops and Intra-net connection, Data Storage which is either Computerized storage or manual Manual storage and lastly the conceptual frame work further indicates that Knowledge and skill of the employees is one of the key important infrastructures needed in the country which is measured by employee knowledge and qualification and all the above has influence of Research data management process in different ways like through Data validation and checking, Data entry, Data manipulation, Data files backup and Data documentation. The Conceptual frame work further indicates that both the independent and dependent variable are affected by the intervening variables which includes; Data life cycle, Organizational policy, Managerial policy and The country’s policy on Health data.
