Preservation and conservation practices in health information management in Southwestern Nigeria

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Preservation and conservation practices play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity, accessibility, and security of health information in the field of health information management (HIM). This study aimed to explore the current state of preservation and conservation practices, identify the challenges faced by healthcare facilities, and examine the strategies employed for effective implementation. A cross sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected from 70 HIM professionals working in various healthcare settings in Southwestern Nigeria. A convenience sampling method was utilized to recruit participants from various healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and healthcare information management companies. A total of 70 respondents were included in the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire developed specifically for this study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected in this study. The findings revealed that adherence to document retention policies (74.3%), regular backup of electronic health records (64.3%), and the usage of archival quality storage media (50.0%) were the most commonly implemented preservation and conservation practice. However, the implementation of data encryption showed room for improvement. Limited financial resources emerged as a significant challenge, along with technological obsolescence, inadequate training and awareness, data privacy and security concerns, and regulatory compliance. Strategies such as regular staff training and education, collaboration with IT and security experts, robust data backup solutions, periodic review of preservation policies, and creation of a disaster recovery plan were identified as key approaches to enhance preservation and conservation services. The study highlights the importance of allocating sufficient resources, addressing data security concerns, promoting training and awareness, staying current with technology, fostering collaboration, and periodically reviewing preservation policies to ensure effective preservation and conservation of health information. The findings provide valuable insights for HIM professionals and organizations seeking to strengthen their preservation practices and optimize the long term preservation and accessibility of health information.