Factors Influencing the Use of Medical Equipment Among Clinical Health Workers at Shai Osudoku District Hospital

Abstract

Background: Medical equipment plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in health facilities. An estimated 40% of medical equipment in hospitals in the sub-region is not in use. Optimizing its use and identifying the challenges and barriers to using them would help improve health outcomes. Objective: To determine the factors influencing the use of medical equipment by health workers in the Shai Osudoku District Hospital Methods: This was an explanatory cross-sectional study where structured questionnaires were administered to 108 health workers who were purposively sampled, made up of physicians, nurses, and midwives from the maternal department and female ward at the Shai Osudoku district hospital to identify guidelines and factors that influence the use of medical equipment. An inventory list was used to identify the medical equipment in the maternal health department and female ward and the proportion not in use. The use of medical equipment was assessed by aggregating 5 points scores from the availability of medical equipment for use when needed and the ability to effectively use medical equipment. The level of use of medical equipment was measured as a continuous outcome, the higher the score the higher the level of use. The data obtained was analyzed using STATA 16. All statistical analysis were computed and reported at a 95% confidence interval and an accepted p-value of p<0.05. Results: The results showed that 20% of medical equipment in the maternal department and the female ward of Shai Osudoku district hospital were out of use. The final analysis revealed that three factors were significantly associated with the use of medical equipment. These were clinical health workers knowledge of first-line maintenance (coefficient = 8.925, 95% CI = 1.873–15.976), refresher training (coefficient -7.932, 95% CI = -15.750 – -0.114), inaccessibility of procedure (coefficient = -8.648, 95% CI = -16.089 - -1.279). These were the only variables that showed statistical significance after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: The study concludes that the use of medical equipment increases with an increase in user’s knowledge of first-line maintenance, which involves, proper cleaning of medical equipment, visual checks and inspections to identify defects, and performing function checks. As such training of clinical health workers on the use of medical equipment should emphasize first-line maintenance. Also, a regular inventory audit is necessary to determine critical shortages immediately.