Development of Web-Based Database System for National and Regional External Quality Assurance of laboratory Service.
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Date
2009-07
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: External quality assurance is concerned with the evaluation of performance of a number of laboratories by external agencies. It’s aimed at assessing the general standard of performance, assessment of the effects of analytical procedures and assessment of individual laboratory performance and compare result between different laboratories.
Objectives: the aim of this paper is to assess and produce a user friendly web based database system for the national and regional external quality assurance scheme that help in the improvement of patient care through increasing the quality of data, quality control of service (trainings), and more efficient laboratory monitoring and reporting system. Methods: A survey study was conducted to assess the external quality assurance scheme of laboratory service during March 2009 to April 2009. Different fact finding techniques (reviewing documents, reports, files etc, interview and questionnaire) has been used for assessing the current system and to discover the requirement of the system. An object oriented system development methodology was used to analyze and design the system. PHP, MySQL and apache were the tools used to develop the database and the web. Result: The laboratories use manual data collection means in about 90% of the cases. As compared to the previous method of data reporting and feedback generation, the newly developed web-based EQA has improved the performances by reducing the response time and loss of information. Only 27 % receive feedback timely, this is as a result of result submission system used and the time staffs needs to make the feedback report. Access to computers is 36.4% and internet (22.5%) in the laboratory. Internet access in the facility is a little higher but still in shortage (51.2%) and restricted to federal hospitals. In most of the cases the automated system have been recommend to use in the facility for their organized handling of information related activities and there has been indicated that this system will make their work easy, reduce workload, it is an accurate method, fast, time saving etc.
Conclusion: The constantly increasing volume of data collected from different laboratories is creating difficulties in manipulation of all available information. The development of an integrated system is crucial. The web based database system developed as enormous potential in reducing time for the submission of result, the response time of feedback and workload on the N/REQAS staff.
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Keywords
Web-Based Database System,Quality Assurance ,laboratory Service