Benefits and experiences of establishing knowledge centers: a case study from two public hospitals in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: In 2010, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) of Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Global Health Workforce Alliance (the Alliance) and the World Health Organization (WHO), agreed to establish three pilot knowledge centers (KCs). Two of KCs have been functional for two years. This assessment was meant to explore the benefits and experiences gained since the two KCs. Methods: A case study of the two sites was performed using a mix of rapid assessment techniques, which included in-depth interview, record review, observation and mini-survey among users. The qualitative data were first transcribed word for word and analyzed using thematic framework approach. Descriptive statistical measures were generated after entering the quantitative data into computer software (SPSS V 14.0). Results: The online services were much more preferred than the offline services. More than a quarter of the users interviewed visit the KC at least once a day. The KCs have reportedly contributed to the retention of health workforce in the hospitals. The opening hours of the KCs were judged to be largely inconvenient. Frequent interruption of both the online and offline services and delay in computer maintenance were reported as challenges. Conclusions: Despite the challenges observed, the assessment showed that the intended benefit of improving health workforce retention in hospitals of remote localities by establishing KCs is beginning to happen. Making the opening hours convenient to the workers and availing adequately qualified information technology (IT) professionals at strategic location to serve a group of KCs is recommended for the scale up phase.