Comparison of Time spent between an electronic and a paper-based
laboratory information system by laboratorians at a polyclinic in
Greater Accra, Ghana: A time-motion study
Abstract
The acceptance of electronic laboratory information system (LIS) is
gradually increasing in developing countries. However, the issue of time
effectiveness due to computerization is less clear as there is fewer
accessible information. One of the key issues for laboratorians is their
indecision with LISs’ would-be effect of time on their work. A
polyclinic in Ghana was in the process of implementing electronic LIS.
Several of the laboratorians did not have knowledge and skill in
computing and there were disagreeing views on the time effectiveness of
the LIS after implementation. The management of the polyclinic
laboratory was concerned to assess time advantageousness of recording
data when using the electronic LIS compared with paper-based LIS.
Five randomly selected laboratorians were provided two sheets of paper
with tables to document the time they spent for both paper-based and
electronic LIS. Data were collected for a total of 230 records,115
electronic LIS and 115 paper-based LIS. The t-test (mean-comparison
test) was computed to compare the means of both electronic and
paperbased LIS times.
There was a statistical significant difference in the time spent between
electronic and paper-based LIS. The time spent between paper-based and
electronic LIS was 0.41 minutes (95% CI 0.15 to 0.66) longer than in
electronic LIS.
LIS can be adopted in polyclinics without having significant negative
impact on time spent between electronic and paper-based LIS. More
time–motion studies that include laboratorians are however necessary in
order to get a more complete picture of time spent between electronic
and paper-based LIS.