Abstract
Introduction: Internationally, newborn hearing screening is becoming part of standard neonatal healthcare service guidelines for the implementation of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) initiatives, including screening, diagnosis, data management and intervention. Data management includes the processes of data collection and storage thereof, as well as analysis and interpretation of data to guide the future planning, implementation and evaluation of EHDI programmes. There have been limited studies on data management in the South African EHDI context.Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the type of data management systems in use in South Africa and whether they allow for cross-disciplinary sharing and evaluation of the EHDI processes. A survey instrument on the management of EHDI data was developed and sent to HI HOPES referral agents in both public and private sectors.Results: A return rate of 80% was achieved, with 19 (59%) public sector and 13 (41%) private sector audiologists participating in the study. The data revealed that there was no uniform data management system in use nationally, and no consistent shared system within the public or private sectors. The majority of respondents (44%) used a paper-based system for data recording. No institutions were using data management systems that enabled sharing of information with other medical professionals.Conclusion: Data management and tracking of the pathway from screening to diagnosis to intervention is necessary to ensure quality care and outcomes for children identified with hearing loss. International studies reveal the importance of effective implementation of data management systems; however, to date these have focussed on developed country contexts. Data management challenges identified in this study reflect international challenges as well as challenges unique to a developing country context.
Highlights
Newborn hearing screening is becoming part of standard neonatal healthcare service guidelines for the implementation of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) initiatives, including screening, diagnosis, data management and intervention
A follow-up study was done to gain a South African perspective on why parents were not bringing their children in for rescreening, and the results showed that 24% of caregivers forgot about the appointment with a further 32% believing that the follow-up appointment was not necessary
Audiologists were asked to indicate what data system they were using for recording of EHDI data in their audiology department/practice
Summary
Newborn hearing screening is becoming part of standard neonatal healthcare service guidelines for the implementation of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) initiatives, including screening, diagnosis, data management and intervention. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) (2007:898–921) has clear guidelines for the implementation of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) initiatives, including principles and process guidelines for screening, diagnosis, data management and intervention These guidelines have come to represent the international gold standard as it serves as a reference document for countries globally, including those that are resource-constrained such as low- and middle-income countries (Olusanya 2015:51–64). Within the South African context, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) recognised the importance and value of early hearing screening and diagnosis, and commissioned the development of a South African position statement on EHDI programmes This statement was modelled closely on the JCIH position statement (JCIH, AAP & ASHA, 2000) and includes principles and guidelines for screening, diagnosis and data management with specific adaptations for the South African EHDI contexts. Data management refers to the processes of data collection and storage, as well as the analysis and http://www.sajim.co.za
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