Health Information Management Complete Facilitator-Referenced End-of-Semester Guide
Every notes section is tied to exact Facilitator Guide pages. The complete extracted text of every assessed written and practical source session is included, and the original Facilitator Guide can be opened inside this page at the cited PDF page.
Exact End-of-Semester Examination Scope
Written examination coverage
| SEO | RT | Examinable task |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1.3 | (a) | Explain principles of report writing |
| 5.1.4 | (b) | Describe importance of backing up data |
| 5.1.4 | (e) | Classify different types of computer viruses |
| 5.1.4 | (f) | Describe importance of computer antivirus software |
| 5.2.1 | (c) | Explain importance of a Health Management Information System |
| 5.3.2 | (c) | Explain importance of pharmaceutical information management in vertical programmes |
| 5.3.3 | (a) | Explain importance of networking in disseminating pharmaceutical information |
Written paper format
| Section | Type | Structure | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Multiple choice | 10 questions, five options each | 10 |
| B | Multiple True/False | 4 questions, five statements each | 10 |
| C | Matching items | 2 sets, five premises and eight responses each | 10 |
| D | Short answers | 8 questions | 40 |
| E | Guided essays | 2 questions, 15 marks each | 30 |
| Total | 100 | ||
Practical examination coverage
The practical examination carries 30%, lasts 2–3 hours and contains a minimum of two questions.
Written Examination Notes
Principles of Good Report Writing
Facilitator Guide: Session 6, pages 75–80.
Meaning and purpose of a report[exact guide source]
A report is a practical document that describes, deals with or analyses a situation so that the reader can take specific action. The report considers whether a problem exists; the conclusion draws together the elements of the problem; and the recommendations present the available options for solving it.
Types of report[exact guide source]
Factual report[exact guide source]
Gathers information that explains or defines a situation.
Instructional report[exact guide source]
Explains a problem and offers a range of solutions.
Persuasive report[exact guide source]
Explains a problem and recommends a solution.
Basic principles[exact guide source]
1. Accuracy[exact guide source]
- Report factual information and information obtained through the senses.
- Separate fact from hearsay, opinion and conclusion.
- Avoid allowing strong feelings to influence the description.
- Use clear words, avoid unexplained jargon and clarify abbreviations.
- Proofread and rewrite the report when necessary.
2. Completeness[exact guide source]
- Report all facts discovered during investigation or data collection.
- Do not omit information merely because it appears irrelevant to the writer.
- Avoid partially stated facts because they may mislead the reader.
- Explain missing or incomplete information.
- Identify possible sources of further information and undeveloped leads.
3. Conciseness[exact guide source]
- Remove unrelated, extraneous, incidental and non-essential details.
- Avoid adjectives, wit, sarcasm, flowery expressions and repetition.
- Maintain one clear line of thought and purpose.
- Use headings, paragraphs, sentence structure and emphasis carefully.
4. Impartiality and objectivity[exact guide source]
- Present material and evidentiary facts without addition or subtraction.
- Do not conceal or withhold information.
- Do not assume or allow preconceived ideas to control the report.
- Maintain an unbiased and open mind.
- Avoid emotional involvement in seeking and reporting information.
5. Clarity[exact guide source]
- Arrange information so that the reader can review and understand it easily.
- Write in chronological or another logical order.
- Avoid ambiguous sentences and vague statements.
- Use words suitable for the intended reader.
6. Proper report formatting[exact guide source]
- Divide the report into clear sections.
- Use consistent headings, paragraphs and presentation.
- Where appropriate, include title page, undeveloped leads, conclusions, witness list and evidence list.
Typical report structure[exact guide source]
Title page → Contents → Introduction → Acknowledgement → Executive Summary → Methodology → Findings → Conclusion → Recommendations → Bibliography → Appendices → Glossary.
Points to consider[exact guide source]
- Clarify the aims before starting and consider the intended reader.
- Gather information needed to explain or define the situation.
- Use the required departmental style.
- Ensure each finding has a conclusion.
- Exchange reports for proofreading where possible.
- Proofread from the end to the beginning to disrupt expectations and reveal errors.
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 6: Report and Presentation of Health Related Information Using Computer Packages (guide pages 75–81)
Session 6: Report and Presentation of Health Related
Information Using Computer Packages
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
• Define report
• Explain principles of good report writing
• Describe methodology of report writing
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers
• Computer and LCD projector
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Content
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives
Buzzing
2 10 minutes Definition of Report
Presentation
3 45 minutes Presentation Basic Principles of Good Report Writing
Presentation
4 45 minutes Small group Methodological of Report Writing
activity
5 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
6 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
7 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
75SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (05 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.
STEP 2: Definition of Report (10 minutes)
Activity: Buzzing (05 minutes)
ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 minutes:
• What is a report?
ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not mentioned
WRITE their response on the flip chart/board
CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below
• Report
o The report is a practical document that describes deals or analyses a situation such
that the reader can take specific actions about the situation.
o The report as a whole asks if there is a problem.
o The conclusion draws the various elements of this question together, typically
acknowledging that there is a problem and breaking it down into its component
parts.
o The recommendations suggest the range of options available to solve the problem.
• Types of report
o Factual report: gathering information that explain or define a situation
o Instructional report: gathering information that explain a problem and offer a
range of solutions
o Persuasive report: gathering information that explain a problem and recommend a
solution.
76STEP 3: Basic Principles of Good Report Writing (45 minutes)
• Accuracy
o Report factual information, for example ―I saw.‖
o Report information gained from the physical senses, for example, sight, smell,
taste, auditory, and touch.
o Be aware of feelings that may destroy objective descriptions. Strong feelings can
cause the writer to seek evidence to support her feelings and reject evidence that
does not support them.
o Make distinctions between fact and hearsay, fact and opinion, and fact and
conclusions.
o Be clear about the meaning of words; avoid jargon.
o Clarify all abbreviations, such as SOB for shortness of breath.
o Proofread the report and rewrite as needed.
• Completeness
o Completeness is achieved by reporting all the facts discovered during the course
of an investigation or data collection.
o Information that appears irrelevant to the investigator may be relevant to the
reviewer.
o In most cases, the only information the reader will have will be the information in
the report.
o Partially stated facts can be misleading and misinterpreted.
o Explain why certain information is lacking or incomplete.
o Provide a detailed explanation of the possible source of additional information
and undeveloped leads.
• Conciseness
o Avoid unrelated, extraneous, incidental, and nonessential information and detail.
o Pay attention to grammar.
o Avoid adjectives, wit, sarcasm, flowery expressions, and repetition. A report is
not a literary or creative writing exercise.
o Use singleness of thought and purpose. A good report will give the reader a clear
idea or picture of the investigation or the information collected.
o Use headings, paragraphing, sentence structure, indentations, underlining, and
capitalization to emphasize and give weight and/or visibility to information the
investigator deems more important.
• Impartiality/Objectivity
77 o The investigator is a fact finder. Report the material and evidentiary facts without
addition or subtraction.
o Do not conceal or withhold information.
o Do not assume.
o Do not conclude.
o Maintain an unbiased and open mind about the case.
o Avoid formulating preconceived ideas about the guilt of the accused.
o Avoid becoming emotionally involved in the process of seeking information.
• Clarity and Report Formatting
o Arrange the contents of the report in discrete sections to facilitate the reader’s
review and understanding of the report.
o Write in chronological order.
o Avoid ambiguous sentences and vague statements.
o Additional parts of the complete report may include the title page, information on
undeveloped leads, investigator’s conclusions, witness list, and exhibit/evidence
list.
STEP 4: Methodological of Report Writing (45 Minutes)
• Typical report structure:
Title page
▼
Contents
▼
Introduction
▼
Acknowledgement
▼
Executive Summary
▼
Methodology
▼
Findings
▼
Conclusion
▼
Recommendations
▼
Bibliography
▼
78 Appendices
▼
Glossary
• Point to consider during report writing:
o Read journals for your subject.
o Remember that each finding should have a conclusion.
o Think about what a report does.
o Check department style and use that.
o Clarify your aims before you start.
o Consider who the reader is.
o Gather information to explain or define a situation.
o Swap with a friend; proof-read each other’s reports.
o Consider what you will need to tell your reader to get them there.
o Proof-read from end to beginning; this disrupts expectations.
STEP 5: Key Points (5 minutes)
• Report is a practical document that describe the situation which the reader can take
action
• Accuracy, completeness, conciseness, objectivity, clarity and formatting are the basic
principles of report writing
• Report should be written by follow the methods of report writing
STEP 6: Evaluation (5minutes)
• What is report?
• What are the types of report?
• What are the principles of report writing?
• What are the components of report?
79STEP 7: Take Home Assignment (5minutes)
Activity: Take Home Assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Use the information recorded in the HMIS Monthly Tracer Medicine Register and
writes a simple report to CHMT of your district of choice.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
80References
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Strategy for
Development and Implementation of an Integrated Logistics System for Essential
Health Commodities: Government printers, Dar es Salaam
USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, Task Order 1. 2011. Tanzania: 2020 Supply Chain
Modeling—Forecasting Demand from 2020–2024. Arlington, Va
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Mort S. (1995). Professional Report Writing. Gower Publisher Ltd. Bristol
UK. (2018). Report Writing-Quick Guide. Student Learning Advisory Service.
University of Kent. Accessed date: 10.09.2018. Available at: www.kent.ac.uk
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81Importance of Backing Up Data
Facilitator Guide: Session 7, pages 83–86.
Meaning of data backup[exact guide source]
A data backup is the result of copying or archiving files and folders so that they can be restored after data loss. A backup supports recovery after deletion or corruption and recovery of data from an earlier time according to a retention policy.
Why backup is important[exact guide source]
The human eraser[exact guide source]
A fast computer combined with an unprepared or tired user can destroy much work quickly. A backup can save hours, days or months that would otherwise be spent reconstructing valuable data. Important data should be backed up before major hardware or software changes.
Hard-disk failure[exact guide source]
Disk failure is unpredictable and may occur at the worst time. Backup systems provide protection from the loss that follows an unexpected disk failure.
Virus and spyware protection[exact guide source]
Malicious programs may cause errors, lockups and data loss. A reliable backup, used with virus-detection software, can restore information from an earlier clean copy.
Freeing disk space[exact guide source]
Less-used files can be moved to secondary storage such as tape or DVD. This creates room for new programs and growing data files while keeping archived information accessible.
Events beyond human control[exact guide source]
Fire, floods, lightning and theft may destroy equipment and local information. Regular extra backups stored in a fireproof safe or an off-site location help preserve the data.
Large file transfers and long-term preservation[exact guide source]
High-capacity backup media can move large quantities of data between systems and can preserve archived information for future access.
Backup media mentioned in the guide[exact guide source]
Magnetic tape, hard disk, recordable CD/DVD/Blu-ray, solid-state and flash storage, cloud backup, online storage, near-line storage, offline storage, off-site vaults and organisational recovery centres.
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 7: Computer Applications for Data Backup, Information Searching and Learning (guide pages 82–99)
Session 7: Computer Applications for Data Backup,
Information Searching and Learning
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Define data back up
• Describe importance of backing up data
• Explain causes of data loss
• Define computer virus
• Classify different type of computer viruses
• Describe the importance of computer antiviruses
• Demonstrate techniques in searching information on the internet
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers
• Computer and LCD projector
• Internet
82SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Step titles
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives
Presentation,
2 10 minutes Definition of Data Backup
Brainstorm
Presentation
3 15 minutes Importance of Backing up Data
Presentation
4 20 minutes Causes of Data Loss
Presentation
5 05 minutes Definition of Computer Virus
6 25 minutes Presentation Types of Computer Viruses
7 15 minutes Presentation Importance of Computer Antivirus
15 minutes Presentation Techniques of Searching Information on the
8
Internet
9 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
10 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
11 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing
STEP 2: Definition of Data Backup (10 minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (05 minutes)
ASK student ―what is data back up?‖
ALLOW few students to respond.
83WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
Data backup
• A data backup is the result of copying or archiving files and folders for the purpose of
being able to restore them in case of data loss.
• Data backup have two distinct reasons:
o To recover data after its loss, by data deletion or corruption.
▪ Data loss can be a common experience of computer users
o To recover data from an earlier time, according to a user-defined data
retention policy typically configured within a backup application for how long
copies of data are required.
Data backup storage media
• Magnetic tape has long been the most commonly used medium for bulk data storage,
backup, archiving, and interchange.
• Hard disk: Hard disks have been improving for many years, making them more
competitive with magnetic tape as a bulk storage medium.
• Optical storage: Recordable CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs are commonly used with
personal computers to store data.
• SSD/Solid state storage: flash memory, thumb drives, USB flash
drives, CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital cards are very
convenient for backing up low data volumes.
• Cloud backup: Backing up via the Internet to a remote location can protect against
events such as fires, floods, or earthquakes which could destroy locally-stored backups.
• On-line backup storage is the most accessible type of data storage, which can begin
restore in milliseconds of time.
• Near-line storage is less accessible and less expensive than on-line storage, but still
useful for backup data storage.
• Off-line storage requires some direct human action to provide access to the storage
media: for example inserting a tape into a tape drive or plugging in a cable.
o Off-site data protection: To protect against a disaster or other site-specific problem,
many people choose to send backup media to an off-site vault.
o The vault can be as simple as a system administrator's home office or as
sophisticated as a disaster-hardened, temperature-controlled, high-security bunker
with facilities for backup media storage.
84• Backup site: Some organizations have their own data recovery centers that are
equipped for data storage.
STEP 3: Importance of Backing up Data (15 minutes)
• The Human Eraser
o Computers can do a lot of damage in a very short period of time.
o The fastest erasers known consist of a fast computer combined with an unprepared
or tired brain.
o Backup systems can save hours, days or months of trying to reconstruct valuable
data.
o Before any important system change, such as adding hardware or software, it is
important to remember to backup all data before installation of the new system.
• Hard disk failure
o MTBFs (Mean Times Between Failure) have improved dramatically in the past
several years for all peripherals.
▪ This refers to data capacity and the amount of data that can be lost if the disk fails.
▪ The problem is, nobody knows when a failure will occur.
o According to the Murphy's Law, the loss will occur at the worst possible time.
o Backup systems give immediate and automatic protection from unpredictable disk
failures.
• Virus protection and spyware protection
o Some unscrupulous individuals continue to write viruses that innocently hide in
shareware programs and all throughout the Internet.
o These programs have the capability to copy themselves and load into the system
along with the software that we downloaded from the internet.
o Once loaded, they proceed to wreak havoc the system, causing errors, lockups and
loss of data.
o A reliable backup system can restore data lost through virus infection when used in
conjunction with good virus detection software and an earlier backup.
• Free up disk space
o It is not easy to stop the steady growth of application software and related data in the
system.
o The only way of resolve this problem is to offload some of the less-used files from
the hard disk to a secondary storage medium like tape or DVDs.
o Removing those inactive files can open up the hard disk for new programs or
growing data files.
85 o Inexpensive DVD or tape cartridges are a sure way to archive the programs and data
while still keeping them accessible when needed.
o It can enable to put off buying a larger disk.
• Events beyond the human control
o Both natural and manmade disasters inject a disconcerting variability into any
application that requires large amounts of data storage.
▪ These include fire, floods, lightning and outright theft.
o After such an occurrence:
▪ Business will failed to survive.
▪ Regenerating vital billing or customer information would be very difficult from
paper records, if not impossible.
o Backup systems protect data against such calamity.
▪ It was advised to do an extra backup weekly and store the backup either in a
fireproof safe or at an offsite location.
▪ If the system goes, the data stays
▪ It may mean the difference between business as usual and bankruptcy.
• Large file transfers
o Transferring large volumes of data can be time-consuming.
o Tape backup drives in particular have the capacity for very high data transfer rates
making them ideal for moving large quantities of data between systems.
o Tapes are also compact, inexpensive and have a long shelf life.
▪ The data are archived and accessible for years to come.
▪ With a tape backup system a system user can conveniently send a tape cartridge
across the country, through the mail or across the office in a shirt pocket.
STEP 4: Causes of Data Loss (20 Minutes)
• Deleting files accidentally
o The top risk of losing data is deleting files or parts of texts without having any
backups available.
o Updating files or deleting them is very common activities and we do them almost
every day.
o No wonder if we accidentally delete wrong files or overwrite the parts we did not
intend.
o We often lose data simply because we do not have proper workflow procedures and
backup strategies.
o More efficient procedures for saving our work and making backups regularly will
definitely save a lot of time for us.
86• Viruses and damaging malware
o There are numerous new viruses which attack computers every day.
o Being connected to worldwide network has many advantages; however, it opens
computers to many serious risks.
o Damages may differ greatly but the majority of viruses affects operational software,
misuses Internet connection and damages stored data.
o There are many different types of viruses and, often, data loss is just a side effect of
some larger damage done to operational system.
o The most dangerous are the attacks targeted to steal and damage business data.
▪ Imagine the value of client databases, technical inventions, patient health
information essential for treatment and medication or financial transactions'
history of the health organization are destructed/ damaged with viruses.
• Mechanical damages of hard drive
o Hard drives of computers are the most fragile parts of computers; they break down
more often than any other device connected to computing.
o There are so many moving parts inside of hard drives that it is no wonder they break
down so easily.
o Once the serious problem occurs in the hard drive, there is no way even a
professional services provider can totally recover the important data in the drive.
o Memory devices are also often damaged when computers are accidentally dropped.
o Regular backups really help in case of hardware troubles.
• Power failures
o There are two adversary effects of power failures.
▪ When you are halfway through writing a long article and you have not saved it
yet, then in case of power going out you lose your data.
▪ Another, even deeper problem may arise when power failures affect operation
systems or hardware of computers; shutting computer down suddenly without
proper shutdown procedures may cause problems with rebooting operation system
later, these operation system problems cause chain reaction and data might not be
accessible any more.
o Sudden changes in voltage may damage many different computer parts.
▪ Most problems can be solved by changing power supply unit but there are also a
great possibility for damaging other hardware elements of computer, e.g. hard
drives and other parts which are very sensitive to changes in voltage and strong
magnetic fields.
o Having automatic backups enables to recover from any accidents caused by power
failures.
87• Theft of computer
o It is a real tragedy to lose both computer and data at the same time.
o There is always the danger of burglars breaking the offices and stealing electronic
devices.
o While traveling passengers leave the laptop in a bus/car, airport, conference centers,
coffee shops or any other crowded place.
o New computers cost some money, but very often the data saved to hard disks is even
more expensive.
o Even if there is no particular monetary value involved, personal memories, family
pictures or other heirlooms are certainly important and very valuable to any person
who use computer.
o Losing computer may be less painful, if a computer user use proper data backup
strategy and keep data in safe storage.
• Spilling coffee, and other water damages
o Since laptop usage has been growing during past few years, the damages caused by
spilling drinks on to the computers have become more often as well.
o Average laptop does not have extra covers to protect internal parts from getting
soaked.
o Liquids cause short circuit of important electronic components and they are really
hard to recover afterwards.
o Hard drives are usually placed in protective case and may be still used after getting a
little wet.
o However, harder soaking makes hard drives inaccessible.
o Another risk of the same category is dropping computer into water.
o If the computer is completely immersed into water, it is really hard to fix anything
afterwards.
o Maybe visiting a repairman really quickly can save some parts of the computer
appliances otherwise it will be a useless computer.
o Also, if computer was not switched on at the moment of falling into water, the
damage may be less severe.
o Water accidents usually cause the loss of data saved to the hard drive.
• Fire accidents and explosions
o Explosions happen rarely but fire most probably completely destroys both a
computer and data saved on it.
o Fire is also dangerous to the backups that are stored in the same house.
o For example, having weekly backups stored on an external hard drive which is kept
in same building does not help much if the building burns down.
o In this case, both computer and backup drive will be destroyed and data will be
completely lost.
88 o The safest practice against fire is to make regular backups and keep them in other
(different) locations.
STEP 5: Computer Virus (5 Minutes)
• A virus refers to a man-made computer program or code that is loaded onto a user's
computer without their knowledge and run without the user's approval.
• A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file enabling it to spread from one
computer to another, leaving infections as it travels.
• Like a human virus, a computer virus can range in severity: some may cause only
mildly annoying effects while others can damage the computer hardware, software and
files.
• Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist
on the computer but it actually cannot infect the computer unless the user run or open
the malicious program.
• It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, such as
running an infected program to keep it going.
• Because a virus is spread by human action, people will unknowingly continue the
spread of a computer virus by sharing infecting files or sending emails with viruses
as attachments in the email.
NOTE: Virus attaches to an executable file that requires human action to spread.
STEP 6: Types of Computer Viruses (25 Minutes)
• These days there are so many different types of virus but the mostly popular viruses are
Worms, Trojan Horse, and Blended threat.
• A malware is not a computer virus.
• A virus is usually hidden, and can do a number of things, as it relates to the health of
the computer, a few examples are provided below:
o Make a computer run slowly
o Prevent computers from booting up
o Damage parts of the system or amend how the system operates without the owner's
knowledge
o Be used to steal personal details
o Move from machine to machine on a network
o Attack other machines using machine as a host
o Send out unauthorized messages
89Worm
• A worm is similar to a virus by design and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus.
• Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to
travel without any human action.
• A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features in the system, which is
what allows it to travel unaided.
• The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself in the system, rather
than the computer to send out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of
copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect.
• One example is a worm sends a copy of itself to everyone listed in the sent e-mail
address book.
o Then, the worm replicates and sends itself out to everyone listed in each of the
receiver's address book, and the manifest continues on down the line.
o Due to the copying nature of a worm and its capability to travel across networks the
end result in most cases is that the worm consumes too much system memory and
network bandwidth, causing Web servers, network servers and individual computers
to stop responding.
o In recent worm attacks such as Blaster Worm, the worm has been designed to tunnel
into the computer system and allow malicious users to control the computer
remotely.
NOTE: Worm can replicate itself on system and does not require human action to
spread.
Trojan horse
• A Trojan Horse is full of as much trickery as the mythological Trojan Horse it was
named after.
• The Trojan Horse, at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do
damage once installed or run in the computer.
• Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them
because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate
source.
• When a Trojan is activated in the computer, the results can vary.
• Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious, like changing
the desktop, adding silly active desktop icons or they can cause serious damage by
deleting files and destroying information in the system.
90• Trojans are also known to create a backdoor in the computer that gives malicious users
access to the system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be
compromised.
• Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not reproduce by infecting other files; they self-
replicate.
NOTE: Trojan Horse appears useful but damages system, and it requires human action
to run, but do not self-replicate.
Blended Threat
• Added into the mix, we also have what is called a blended threat.
• A blended threat is a more sophisticated attack that bundles some of the worst aspects
of viruses, worms, Trojan horses and malicious code into one single threat.
• Blended threats can use server and Internet vulnerabilities to initiate, then transmit and
also spread an attack.
• Characteristics of blended threats are:
o It causes harm to the infected system or network
o It propagates using multiple methods
o The attack can come from multiple points
o The threats also exploit vulnerabilities
• A blended thread, the attack would normally serve to transport multiple attacks in one
payload.
For example:
o It wouldn't just launch a DoS attack.
o It installs a backdoor and maybe even damage a local system in one shot.
o It is designed to use multiple modes of transport.
• While a worm may travel and spread through e-mail, a single blended threat could use
multiple routes including e-mail, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and file-sharing sharing
networks.
• Rather than a specific attack on predetermined .exe files, a blended thread could do
multiple malicious acts, like modify the .exe files, HTML files and registry keys at the
same time
• It can cause damage within several areas of the network at one time.
• Blended threats are considered to be the worst risk to security since the inception of
viruses, as most blended threats also require no human intervention to propagate.
Malware
• Technically, this is not classed as a virus.
• It is software used to spy on computer user's activities and collect personal information.
• More commonly is known as "spyware".
91STEP 7: Importance of Computer Antiviruses (15 Minutes)
Antivirus Software
Antivirus Software is data security utility which is installed in a computer system/PC
with a purpose of protection from viruses, spyware, malware, rootkits, Trojans, phishing
attacks, spam attack and other online cyber threats.
• Antivirus software is the "policeman" at the gate of a computer system.
• It protects the computer from incoming threats and seeks out, destroys and warns of
possible threats to the system.
• New viruses are coming out all the time; it is the job of the antivirus software to keep
up with the latest threats.
• This is achieved by daily updates of the antivirus database definitions, which counteract
the latest threats to provide constant protection.
The benefits of using antivirus software in the computer system
• Protection from Viruses and Spyware
o Antivirus has the primary job of detecting any sought of viruses, spyware, malware
and other unknown threats and removing the same before they can do any harm to
the data present in a computer system.
• Protection from Phishing Attacks
o Phishing is termed as an unauthorized attempt by any third person or hacker to
access the data present in the system, with the intention of stealing the same or infect
the data so that it can’t be usable to the user.
• Provides Robust Web Protection
o With the increased use of the internet, various online cyber threats are affecting the
data security of the computer.
o Antivirus software takes control of the web activities limiting unauthorized access of
any online threat.
• Provides quick scan of removable device
o Antivirus Software provides the advantage of quick scanning of any removable
device connect to the computer system and scans it for any unknown threats.
o The external drives are opened automatically after complete scanning of the
removable devices and removing any unknown threats present in it.
• Two-Way Firewall
92 o Antivirus Software provides two-way firewall protection which puts a check in
every incoming and outgoing data/mail through the internet and blocks the same if it
finds something suspicious during transmission.
• Block Ads and Spam Website
o At present, most of the viruses and spam attacks are executed from the pop-up ads
and other spam website whose original intention is to steal confidential information
from user’s computer which could result in big financial losses.
• Provides Password Protection
o Some significant antivirus software provides the feature of password protection
which protects them from getting stolen by any third person or hackers.
• Speed up the computer system
o Nowadays, antivirus software developed in such a way that they don’t hamper the
system performance.
o Rather they come with built in modules which automatically deleted unwanted files
and folders from the computer system, thus increasing its performance speed.
STEP 8: Techniques of Searching Information on the Internet (15
Minutes)
• A web search engine is a software system that is designed to search for information on
the World Wide Web.
• The most popular search engines in the world are the following: Google, Bing, yahoo,
Baidu, Ask.com, and AOL.com.
• The four top medical information search engine websites are: WebMD, PubMed,
Healthline and HealthFinder
Procedures of searching information on the internet
• Google is the most popular search engine in the world.
• But while so many people use it, few actually get formal instructions on how to search
with Google.
• Below are steps on how to search on Google.
Step 1: Go to Google (But Which Google?)
• To search Google, user should have to go to Google.
• The user should have knowledge of various ways to reach the site.
• In fact, that there are even different Google web sites.
93Figure 10: Google Search
• Go directly to Google.com by typing in http://google.com into the web browser; that
will take the user to the main Google web site, which is designed to serve the world in
general.
• The user can prefer to go to the version of Google designed for the own country.
• The user can find a list of country-specific versions of Google shown on this page.
Step 2: Go To Google via a Toolbar
• A faster way to use Google is to enter a search into the search box that’s built into most
popular browsers.
• With the Google’s Chrome browser, type the search content right into the same box
• Enter search term in the omnibox, for example a ―car‖.
Figure 11: Omnibox
Step 3: Enter Search Terms
• Using a toolbar, as you type, you may see words begin to appear below the toolbar’s
search box.
• These are suggestions that Google thinks may match what you’re interested in.
• Google calls this ―Google Suggest‖ or ―Autocomplete.‖
94• You can ignore the suggestions, but if one seems useful, select it to save some typing.
Figure 12: Search box
Step 4: Review Search Results
• After searched, the page will have a full of results.
• Some of these will be matching pages from across the web.
• Some of these will be matching content from those subject-specific versions of Google.
95Figure 13: Search results
Step 5: Preview Answers
• As you review results, you’ll wonder if some of the listed sites are the best answer to
what you’re looking for.
• Google provides a way to quickly check on this.
• It’s called Google Instant Previews.
• Next to the web page listings, you’ll see a magnifying glass symbol appear:
• Click on this, and you’ll make a preview of the page for that listing appear:
96Step 6: Refine the Google Search
• Google doesn’t know exactly what you want, when you enter a search, so the results
you get are its best guess.
• There are ways you can help it make better guesses.
• For one, Google provides a variety of ways to refine your searches, to narrow them
down.
• For examples: search for DVD players:
STEP 9: Key Points (05 minutes)
• A data backup is the process of copying and archiving files for the purpose of
restored them in case of data loss.
• Deleting file, computer virus, physical computer damage, power failure, theft, natural
and manmade disaster are the causes of data loss.
• Worms, Trojan Horse and Blended threat are the most popular viruses in the world.
• The antivirus software is a data security installed in a computer system.
STEP 10: Evaluation (05 minutes)
• What is the difference between virus and antivirus?
• What are the merits of using computer antivirus?
• What are the factors caused data loss in the computer system?
97STEP 11: Take HomeAssignment (05 minutes)
Activity: Take Home Assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• What is data backup?
• What are the reasons for data backup?
• Mention types of computer virus and anti-virus.
• Enlist causes for data loss
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
98References
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Abdelhak M. (2014). Health Information: Management of Strategic Resources. 5th Ed.
Elsevier Health Science Publisher.
Axelsson S. (2006). Understanding Intrusion Detection through Visualization. Springer
Science & Business Media Publisher. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany.
Aycock J. (2006). Computer Viruses and Malware. Springer International Publisher.
USA.
Couglas J.D. (2003). The Backup Book: Disaster Recovery from Desktop Data Center.
3rd Ed. Network Frontiers, LLC. US.
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
Miller M. (2009). The Complete Idiot`s Guide to Search Engine Optimization. Alpha
Books Publisher. US.
99Classification of Computer Viruses and Related Threats
Facilitator Guide: Session 7, pages 89–91 (PDF pages 99–101).
Meaning of a computer virus[exact guide source]
A computer virus is a man-made program or code loaded onto a computer without the user’s knowledge and run against the user’s wishes. It can attach itself to a program or file and spread from one computer to another. The guide explains that almost all viruses are attached to executable files and normally require human action, such as opening or running an infected program, to spread.
Possible effects[exact guide source]
A virus may make a computer run slowly, prevent it from starting, damage or alter parts of the system without the owner’s knowledge, steal personal details, move from one machine to another on a network, use one machine to attack another, or send unauthorised messages.
Worm[exact guide source]
A worm is described as a subclass of virus that can spread from computer to computer without human action. It can replicate itself, consume memory and network bandwidth, stop servers or computers from responding, and may allow malicious users to control a system remotely.
Trojan horse[exact guide source]
A Trojan horse appears to be useful or legitimate software but causes damage once installed or run. It may change the desktop, add unwanted icons, delete files, destroy information or create a backdoor through which confidential information can be compromised. It requires human action to run and does not reproduce by infecting other files.
Blended threat[exact guide source]
A blended threat combines aspects of viruses, worms, Trojan horses and malicious code. It can use server and internet vulnerabilities, propagate through several routes, attack from several points and carry out several harmful actions in one payload.
Malware or spyware[exact guide source]
The guide states that malware is not technically classified as a computer virus. It is software used to spy on computer users’ activities and collect personal information, and is commonly called spyware.
The complete Session 7 source transcript appears under Importance of Backing Up Data.
Importance of Computer Antivirus Software
Facilitator Guide: Session 7, pages 91–93.
Antivirus software is a data-security utility installed to protect a computer from viruses, spyware, malware, rootkits, Trojan horses, phishing attacks, spam attacks and other online threats. It acts as a gatekeeper: it looks for threats, destroys them and warns the user.
Protection from viruses and spyware[exact guide source]
Detects and removes known or unknown threats before they damage data.
Protection from phishing attacks[exact guide source]
Helps prevent unauthorised attempts to steal information or damage it so that it cannot be used.
Web protection[exact guide source]
Monitors web activities and limits unauthorised online threats.
Scanning removable devices[exact guide source]
Checks external drives and removes threats before their contents are opened.
Two-way firewall support[exact guide source]
Checks incoming and outgoing internet traffic and blocks suspicious transmission.
Blocking advertisements and spam websites[exact guide source]
Reduces exposure to pop-up advertisements and malicious sites designed to steal confidential information.
Password protection[exact guide source]
Helps protect information from unauthorised access or theft.
System-performance support[exact guide source]
Some antivirus utilities remove unwanted files and folders that slow the computer.
Regular updates[exact guide source]
New viruses appear continually. Updated antivirus definitions help the software recognise and counter recent threats.
The complete Session 7 source transcript appears under Importance of Backing Up Data.
Importance of a Health Management Information System
Facilitator Guide: Session 9, pages 108–113.
A Health Management Information System is a data-collection system specifically designed to support planning, management and decision making in health facilities and organisations.
Monitoring performance[exact guide source]
- Health projects and programmes have goals to be achieved within a specified period.
- Information is required to determine whether a goal is being reached or has been reached.
- The Ministry of Health and vertical programmes require information to monitor improvement in health-care delivery.
- HMIS ensures that information is obtained in the form required by planners and managers.
Planning[exact guide source]
- Limited resources require careful planning.
- HMIS helps determine which project or activity needs more funding.
- Allocation of human and non-human resources requires data.
- Health-policy formulation needs accurate and adequate data from facilities and communities.
Coordination[exact guide source]
- HMIS supports coordination of activities carried out by national programmes and non-governmental organisations.
- It helps the Ministry of Health determine whether programmes and organisations are performing their expected roles.
Information needed by planners and decision makers[exact guide source]
Health determinants; health-system inputs and processes; system performance and outputs; health outcomes; and health inequities. A good system brings partners together and gives users access to reliable, authoritative, usable, understandable and comparable data.
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 9: Components of Health Management Information System (guide pages 108–114)
Session 9: Components of Health Management
Information System
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Define health management information system (HMIS)
• List components of the health management information system
• Explain the importance of health management information system
• List key performance indicators of health management information system
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board markers
• Computer and LCD projector
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation, Presentation of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Brainstorm Definition of health management information
2 10 minutes
Presentation system
Components of WHO health information
3 30 minutes Presentation
system
Importance of health management
4 30 minutes Presentation
information system
Presentation Performance indicators of health
5
30 minutes Group Discussion management information system
6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
108 7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
8 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5
minutes)
READ the Learning Tasks to students
ASK students if they have any question before proceeding
STEP 2: Definitions of Health Management Information System
(10 Minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (02 minutes)
ASK student what is ―health management information system?‖
ALLOW few students to respond.
WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
• Health Management Information System (HMIS) is a data collection system
specifically designed to support planning, management, and decision making in
health facilities and organizations.
• An information system (IS) is an organized system with interrelated components
used for the collection, organization, storage and communication of information.
• Health information management (HIM) deals largely with patient or individual
health-related data.
• Health information systems (HIS) capture, store, manage, or transmit information
related to the health of individuals or the activities of an organization that work within
the health sector
• Health planners and decision-makers need different kinds of information including:
109 o Health determinants: socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, behavioral
factors, genetic factors and the contextual environments within which the health
system operates.
o Inputs to the health system and related processes: policy and organization,
health infrastructure, facilities and equipment, costs, human and financial
resources and health information systems.
o The performance or outputs of the health system: availability, accessibility,
quality and use of health information and services, responsiveness of the system to
user needs, and financial risk protection.
o Health outcomes: mortality, morbidity, disease outbreaks, health status, disability
and wellbeing.
o Health inequities: determinants, coverage of use of services, and health outcomes,
and including key stratifies such as sex, socioeconomic status, ethnic group and
geographical location.
• A good health information system brings together all relevant partners to ensure that
users of health information have access to reliable, authoritative, usable,
understandable and comparative data.
STEP 3: Components of Health Management Information System
(30 Minutes)
• There is clear value in defining what constitutes a health information system and how
its components interact with one another to produce better information for better
decisions and better health.
• HMIS is build-up with six components and these components are further grouped into
three elements which are: inputs, processes, and outputs.
• Inputs refer to resources.
• Processes touch on how indicators and data sources are selected and data are collected
and managed.
• Outputs deal with the production, dissemination, and use of information.
The six components of a health information system
• Inputs
o Health information system resources. These consist of the legislative, regulatory,
and planning frameworks required to ensure a fully functioning health information
system, and the resources that are prerequisites for such a system to be functional.
▪ Such resources involve personnel, financing, logistics support, information and
communications technology (ICT), and coordinating mechanisms within and
among the six components.
• Processes
110 o Indicators. A core set of indicators and related targets for the three domains of
health information is the basis for a plan and strategy for a health information
system.
▪ Indicators need to encompass determinants of health; health system inputs,
outputs, and outcomes; and health status.
o Data sources can be divided into two main categories:
▪ Population-based approaches: censuses, civil registration, and population
surveys
▪ Institution-based data: individual records, service records, and resource
records.
o Data management. This covers all aspects of data handling: collection, storage,
quality-assurance, flow, processing, compilation, and analysis.
• Outputs
o Information products. Data must be transformed into information that will
become the basis for evidence and knowledge to shape health action.
o Dissemination and use. The value of health information can be enhanced by
making it readily accessible to decision makers (giving due attention to
behavioural and organizational constraints) and by providing incentives for
information use.
STEP 4: The Importance of Health Management Information
System (30 minutes)
• Monitoring Performance
o Any project or programme in the health sectors has goals to be met within a
specific period of time.
o In order to monitor if the goal is being reached, or has been reached, information is
required.
o Similarly, the Ministry of Health including vertical programme needs information
to monitor improvement of health care delivery.
o In order to obtain this information, there is need of having a health information
system, which will ensure that information is obtained in the manner required by
the planners and mangers.
• Planning
o In order to utilize limited resources adequately one needs to plan.
o How can one know that project A needs more funding than project B, it is only
through an adequate health information system that can be able to determine this.
o Allocation of human and non-human resources in health sector needs data.
111 o Formulation of health policies in health sector needs accurate and adequate data
from health facilities and communities.
• Coordinating
o In order to coordinate activities carried out by various national health programmes
and Non-Governmental organization, there is a need of having a Health
Information System.
o Through HIS, the Ministry of health can be able to determine if the programmes
and Non- Governmental Organization `s are performing their roles as expected.
STEP 5: The Performance Indicators of Health Management
Information System (30 minutes)
• Indicators of country health information system performance can be categorized into
two types:
o Indicators related to data generation using core sources and methods: health
surveys, civil registration, census, facility reporting, and health system resource
tracking.
▪ These reflect country capacity to collect relevant data at appropriate intervals
and use the most appropriate data sources.
▪ Benchmarks include periodicity, timeliness, and contents of data collection
tools and availability of data on key indicators.
o Indicators related to country capacities for synthesis, analysis and validation of
data.
▪ These measure key dimensions of the institutional frameworks needed to
ensure data quality, including independence, transparency and access.
▪ Benchmarks include the availability of independent coordination mechanisms
and the availability of micro-data and metadata.
STEP 6: Key Points (5 minutes)
• The data collection system designed to support planning, management, and decision
making in health facilities and organizations is called HMIS.
• A health information system resources, indicators, data sources, data management,
information products, use and dissemination of health information are six components
of HMIS.
• Monitoring performance, planning and coordination are the main importance of HMIS
in the health sector industry.
STEP 7: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What is Information System (IS)?
• What is a Health Information System (HIS)?
112• What is Health Information Management (HIM)?
• What is a Health Management Information System (HMIS)
STEP 7: Take Home Assignment (5 minutes)
Activity: Take Home Assignment
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ASK the students to work on the following assignment
• List key performance indicators of HMIS
ALLOW group to work for two days and submit the task after scheduled
time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these
questions for not less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
113References
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
Balgrosky A. J. (2014). Essentials of Health Information Systems and Technology. Jones
& Bartlett Publishers.
Huffman, R.A.A. Edna, K. (1994). Health Information Management. Berwyn Illinois
Company USA
Merida, L. Johns. (2007). Health Information Management Technology. 2nd ed . AHIMA
Chicago, Illinois.
Wager A.K. (2013). Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health
Care Management. 3rd Ed. Wiley Brand Publishers, US.
WHO. (2008). Assessing the National Health Information System: An Assessment tool-
Vesrion 4.00. Switzerland.
Winter A. (2011). Health Information Systems. Springer Publisher. New York City.
Wodon A. (2011). Health Information System. 2nd Ed. Editions L`Harmattan Publisher.
Paris, France.
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
114Importance of Pharmaceutical Information Management in Vertical Programmes
Facilitator Guide: Session 12, pages 139–142.
Context[exact guide source]
A vertical programme targets one particular disease or health issue. The guide identifies Reproductive Health, National AIDS Control, National Immunization and National TB/Leprosy programmes.
A pharmaceutical management information system integrates pharmaceutical-data collection, processing and presentation so that staff at different health-system levels can make evidence-based decisions and manage pharmaceutical services.
Integrated logistics functions[exact guide source]
- Coordination of procurement, storage and distribution of programme medicines, medical supplies and laboratory reagents.
- Management of receipts supplied by programmes and development partners.
- Timely reporting of stock status to programmes and partners.
Importance[exact guide source]
Stronger services and lower costs[exact guide source]
Integration strengthened vertical-programme services, lowered operating costs and improved the availability of medicines, medical supplies and laboratory reagents.
Sound decisions[exact guide source]
A good pharmaceutical management information system provides the information needed for sound pharmaceutical-sector decisions.
Monitoring priority issues[exact guide source]
Supports monitoring of patient adherence, drug resistance, medicine and laboratory-supply availability, patient safety, post-market intelligence, product registration, product quality, financing and programme management.
Supply-system coordination[exact guide source]
Provides relevant, accurate and timely information for coordinating the elements of the pharmaceutical supply system.
Planning and mobilisation[exact guide source]
Supports accurate quantification, procurement planning, budgeting, resource mobilisation and programme management.
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 12: Management of Pharmaceutical Information in Vertical Program (guide pages 139–143)
Session 12: Management of Pharmaceutical
Information in Vertical Program
Total Session Time: 60 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Define the term vertical programme
• Mention vertical programme existing in the country
• Explain the importance of pharmaceutical information management in vertical
programmes
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board markers
• Computer and LCD Projector
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation, Presentation of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Presentation/
2 10 minutes Brainstorm Definition of Vertical Programme
3 10 minutes Presentation Vertical Programmes Existing in the Country
Importance of Pharmaceutical Information
4 25 minutes Presentation
Management in Vertical Programmes
5 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
6 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
139SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5
minutes)
READ the Learning Tasks to students
ASK students if they have any question before proceeding
STEP 2: Definitions of Vertical Programme (10 Minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (02 minutes)
ASK student what is ―vertical programme‖?
ALLOW few students to respond.
WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
Vertical programme
• A vertical programme is a programme which targets one particular disease.
• A vertical program might focus on malaria from the bottom where members of
community leave and go on up to the level where planners, evaluators and decision
makers making decision of a particular case.
• Vertical programme deals with removing the places where mosquitoes breed,
protecting the houses where the people live, educating people about how to avoid
malaria, establishing clinics where malaria can be diagnosed and treated, and finally,
finding medications to cure the disease, and so on.
• It is one system all focused on the same disease.
• It's vertical because it goes from the ground; where people who have the disease leave,
up to the level where the doctors and scientists try to develop new cures.
• A horizontal program might focus on all tropical diseases, or in fact all diseases.
• A horizontal approach might consist of equipping a clinic to treat every kind of disease
and health problem in the region.
140STEP 3: The Vertical Programmes Existing in the Country (10
Minutes)
Tanzania vertical health programmes:
• Reproductive Health Program
• National Aids Control Program
• National Immunization Program
• National TB / Leprosy Program
STEP 4: The Importance of Pharmaceutical Information
Management in Vertical Programmes (25 minutes)
• The pharmaceutical management information system (PMIS) integrates
pharmaceutical data collection, processing, and presentation of information that helps
staff at all levels of country`s health system to make evidence-based decisions and
manage pharmaceutical services.
• Any firm in the pharmaceutical industry requires efficient and effective management
information systems (MIS) to support managerial functions.
• In 1996 and for the purpose of improve the efficiency of Health sector, the
government integrated MSD logistics functions operations with all Vertical Programs.
• The integrated functions were:-
o Coordination of procurement, Storage and Distribution of program medicines,
Medical Supplies and Laboratory Reagents.
o Managing receipts of all Medicines, Medical Supplies and Laboratory Reagents
supplied by different programs and development Partners (Global Fund, UNICEF,
World Health Organization and USAID).
o Give timely report to the programs on stock status to programs and development.
• The importance of PMIS in vertical programmes:
o The integration strengthened Vertical Programs services likewise lowered the
operations costs of programs and resulted into increase the availability of VP
Medicines, Medical Supplies and Laboratory Reagents to the health facilities.
o A good PMIS provides the necessary information to make sound decisions in the
pharmaceutical sector.
o Effective pharmaceutical management requires policymakers, program managers,
and health care providers to monitor information related to patient adherence,
drug resistance, availability of medicines and laboratory supplies, patient safety,
post-market intelligence, product registration, product quality, financing and
program management, among other issues.
o Coordinating the elements of a pharmaceutical supply system requires
relevant, accurate, and timely information.
141 o Increased funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and immunization programs has
contributed to the need for accurate and timely information on a variety of
parameters that affect the ability to conduct accurate quantification, procurement
planning, budgeting, resource mobilization and program management.
STEP 5: Key Points (5 minutes)
• Vertical health programme deals with specific health issues like Malaria cases
• Cost and effective distribution and availability of medication was improved after the
integration of pharmaceutical management information system and vertical
programmes
STEP 6: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What is a vertical health programs?
• What is the main vertical health programmes found in Tanzania?
142References
MSD. (2018). Vertical programs services. Accessed: 08.09.2018. Available from:
www.msd.go.tz
WHO. (2005). Vertical-horizontal synergy of health workforce. Netherlands. Available
from: www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/4/editorial10405/en
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
Abdelhak M. (2014). Health Information: Management of Strategic Resources. 5th Ed.
Elsevier Health Science Publisher.
Axelsson S. (2006). Understanding Intrusion Detection through Visualization. Springer
Science & Business Media Publisher. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany.
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
143Importance of Networking in Disseminating Pharmaceutical Information
Facilitator Guide: Session 13, pages 144–147.
A network is a group of two or more devices that can communicate. Connected systems may use physical or wireless links. Networks allow computers and individuals to share information, hardware, storage and software.
Importance in pharmaceutical services[exact guide source]
Acquisition, delivery and stock control[exact guide source]
Improves acquisition of consumable and non-consumable materials, delivery of pharmaceutical materials, and stock and inventory control.
More time for clients[exact guide source]
Efficient information processing gives pharmacists more time to assist clients in the service area.
Reduced waiting time and expenditure[exact guide source]
Can reduce client waiting time, pharmaceutical expenditure and manpower requirements.
Information sharing[exact guide source]
Facilitates sharing of information with other service areas within a health facility.
Efficient business operations[exact guide source]
Supports recording drugs, requesting supplies, tracking stock, and tracking or paying medicine bills from insurers, patients and other service users.
Patient safety and quality[exact guide source]
Supports patient safety, quality of care and monitoring of the efficacy and safety of medicines in use.
Current product information[exact guide source]
Provides online updates about prices and other pharmaceutical-product information.
Electronic prescribing[exact guide source]
Supports online and electronic prescribing of medication.
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 13: Networking Programmes in Dissemination of Pharmaceutical Information (guide pages 144–149)
Session 13: Networking Programmes in Dissemination
of Pharmaceutical Information
Total Session Time: 60 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Explain the importance of networking in dissemination of pharmaceutical information
• Explain the networking programmes used in dissemination of pharmaceutical
information
• Disseminate pharmaceutical information (PRACTICAL)
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board markers
• Computer and LCD projector
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation, Presentation of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Presentation/
Utilization of Networking Programs in
2 10 minutes Brainstorm
Disseminating Pharmaceutical Information
Networking Programs used in Disseminating
3 30 minutes Presentation
Pharmaceutical Information
4 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
5 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
6 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
144SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5
minutes)
READ the Learning Tasks to students
ASK students if they have any question before proceeding
STEP 2: Utilization of Networking Programs in Disseminating
Pharmaceutical Information (10 Minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (02 minutes)
ASK student what is a ―Networking‖?
ALLOW few students to respond.
WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
Networking
• A network, in computing, is a group of two or more devices that can communicate.
• A network is comprised of a number of different computer systems connected by
physical and/or wireless connections.
• The scale can range from a single PC sharing out basic peripherals to massive data
centers located around the World, to the Internet itself.
• All networks allow computers and/or individuals to share information and resources.
• Computer networks serve a number of purposes, some of which include:
o Communications such as email, instant messaging, chat rooms, etc.
o Shared hardware such as printers and input devices
o Shared data and information through the use of shared storage devices
o Shared software, which is achieved by running applications on remote computers
Importance of networking technology in pharmaceutical health information system
• Using computer networking technology in pharmacy is very useful for the
pharmaceutical profession.
145• The following are the benefits of pharmaceutical networking technology in healthcare
industry:
o It improves the pharmacists work, especially in acquisition of consumable and non-
consumable medical materials, deliveries of pharmaceutical materials, stock and
inventory control.
o It gives them more time to help the customers in the service area.
o It reduces client waiting time, pharmaceutical expenditure and the manpower
requirement for any kind of pharmaceutical work.
o It facilitates sharing of information with other service area within the health facility
• Networking computers helps to run business operations efficiently
o They make it easier to handle the business tasks such as recording drugs, requesting
consumable and non-consumable medical items, tracking and paying drugs and
medication bills from insurance company, client/patients and other service user.
o It helps to improve patient safety, provide quality of care, monitoring efficacy and
safety of medicine in use.
o It gives updates of prices and other pharmaceutical product information online.
o It is used in online and e-prescribing of medication.
STEP 3: The Networking Programs Used in Disseminating
Pharmaceutical Information (30 Minutes)
• There are several different types of computer networks used in information
communication.
• Computer networks can be characterized by their size as well as their purpose.
• Networks based on size are:
o Personal area network (PAN): a computer network organized around an
individual person within a single building like small office.
o Local area network (LAN): used for single sites where people need to share
resources among themselves but not with the rest of the outside world.
o Metropolitan area network (MAN): a computer network across an entire city,
college campus or small region.
o Wide area network (WAN): occupies a very large area, such as an entire country
or the entire world.
• Networks based on their main purpose are:
o Storage area network (SAN): a high-speed sub network of shared storage
devices.
o Enterprise private network (EPN): a computer network built by a business to
interconnect its various company sites (such as production sites, offices and
shops) in order to share computer resources.
o Virtual private network (VPN)
▪ An encrypted connection over the Internet from a device to a network.
146 ▪ The encrypted connection helps ensure that sensitive data is safely transmitted.
▪ It prevents unauthorized people from eavesdropping on the traffic and allows
the user to conduct work remotely.
• Health Level Seven (HL7) allows computer systems to send and receive
pharmaceutical information to each other in secure way.
o Pharmacies, physician office, health care sites and facilities can exchange
pharmaceutical information through this information exchange standards.
• The following are Health information systems (HIS) used to disseminating/ sharing
pharmaceutical information through networking system:
o Pharmacy information system
o Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system
• Pharmacy information system (PIS)
o The PIS is system that supports the distribution and management of drugs,
identifying the type of intervention, determining the amount of inventory,
reporting and managing of costs, and improving the accessibility of information.
o The PIS helps clinical decision-making by alerting users about clinically
important drug-drug interactions, drug allergies, and drug doses; it also evaluates
patterns of drug use as well as other possible side effects of drugs.
o The PIS may operate as a separate and individual system or as part of a hospital
information system (HIS), paired with the Computerized Physician Order Entry
(CPOE) system.
• Computer physician order entry (CPOE) system
o CPOE is the process of a medical professional entering medication orders or
other physician instructions electronically instead of on paper charts.
o A primary benefit of CPOE is that it can help reduce errors related to poor
handwriting or transcription of medication orders.
o CPOE systems allow providers electronically to specify medication orders as well
as laboratory, admission, radiology, referral, and procedure orders.
o CPOE systems and Clinical Decision Support (CDS) system can improve
medication safety and quality of care and reduce costs of care.
• HL 7 and system interoperability facilitates data sharing/ dissemination from
pharmacies, physician office, health facilities to users which is the ministry of health.
• The system that is used to disseminate pharmaceutical information to ministry of
health is DHIS 2 Software.
147STEP 4: Key Points (5 minutes)
• Networking software helps in sharing pharmaceutical information within and outside
of the hospital setup.
• PIS and CPOE systems are pharmaceutical systems used to sharing information.
• HL 7 and interoperability facilitates data sharing from the source to users through
networking system.
STEP 5: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What is networking?
• What is the difference between CPOE and PIS?
• What is interoperability?
STEP 6: Take Home Assignment (5 minutes)
Activity: Take Home Assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Disseminate a rare drug side effect that has just occurred to a patient
after consuming ALLU to your other staff connected to a Local Area
Network (make sure student understand the background of
establishing a LAN)
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for t 1 day and submit the task after scheduled
time.
CONDUCT each group to present how they handled the activity for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
148References
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
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Abdelhak M. (2014). Health Information: Management of Strategic Resources. 5th Ed.
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Aycock J. (2006). Computer Viruses and Malware. Springer International Publisher.
USA.
Couglas J.D. (2003). The Backup Book: Disaster Recovery from Desktop Data Center.
3rd Ed. Network Frontiers, LLC. US.
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
Miller M. (2009). The Complete Idiot`s Guide to Search Engine Optimization. Alpha
Books Publisher. US.
Bagad S. V, Dhotre A. I. (2009). Computer Networks. Technical Publications. Brown R.
T. (2006). Handbook of Institutional Pharmacy Practice. 4th Ed. University of
Mississippi. USA.
Dixon E. Brian, Zafar A. (2009). Inpatient Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE).
ARRQ National Resources Center for Health Information Technology. USA
Mitchell S. H, Veltri M. A, Kim G. R. (2009). Dispensing: pharmacy information
systems. Pediatric informatics. New York (NY): Springer.
Shortliffe E. H, Cimino J. J. (2006). Biomedical informatics: computer applications in
health care and biomedicine. 3rd ed. New York (NY): Springer.
Wager K.A, Lee F.W, Glaser J. P. (2009). Managing health care information systems: a
practical approach for health care executives. 2nd ed. San Francisco (CA): Jossey-
Bass.
Wolper L. F. (2004). Health care administration: planning, implementing, and
managing organized delivery systems. 4th ed. Boston (MA): Jones & Bartlett
Publishers.
149Facilitator-Guide Evaluation Questions with Answers
What is a report?
A report is a practical document that describes, deals with or analyses a situation so that the reader can take specific action about the situation. Its conclusion brings together the elements of the problem, and its recommendations present options for solving the problem.
What are the types of report?
- Factual report: gathers information that explains or defines a situation.
- Instructional report: explains a problem and offers a range of solutions.
- Persuasive report: explains a problem and recommends a solution.
What are the principles of report writing?
Accuracy, completeness, conciseness, impartiality or objectivity, clarity, and proper report formatting.
What are the components of a typical report?
Title page, contents, introduction, acknowledgement, executive summary, methodology, findings, conclusion, recommendations, bibliography, appendices and glossary.
What is data backup?
Data backup is the result of copying or archiving files and folders so that they can be restored after data loss. It supports recovery after deletion or corruption and recovery of an earlier version under a data-retention policy.
Why is backing up data important?
It protects against human error, unpredictable hard-disk failure, virus and spyware damage, lack of disk space, disasters beyond human control, and difficulties in transferring or preserving large files.
Classify the main computer-virus threats described in the guide.
Worm, Trojan horse and blended threat are the main detailed classifications in the facilitator guide. The guide also distinguishes malware or spyware as malicious software rather than a computer virus. The assessment-aligned question bank additionally retains the guide-linked classifications time bomb, logical bomb, boot-sector virus and macro virus used in the attached question materials.
What is the importance of antivirus software?
Antivirus software protects against viruses and spyware, phishing attempts and web threats; scans removable devices; provides firewall support; blocks spam sites and advertisements; protects information with passwords; may improve system performance; and uses updated definitions to counter new threats.
What is a Health Management Information System?
It is a data-collection system specifically designed to support planning, management and decision making in health facilities and organisations.
Explain the main importance of HMIS.
- Monitoring performance: provides information for determining whether programme goals are being reached.
- Planning: supports allocation of limited human, financial and material resources and health-policy formulation.
- Coordination: helps coordinate national programmes and non-governmental organisations and assess whether they perform expected roles.
What is a vertical programme?
A vertical programme targets a particular disease or health issue and connects activities from the community level to planners, evaluators and decision makers concerned with that specific issue.
Mention the main vertical health programmes identified in the guide.
Reproductive Health Programme, National AIDS Control Programme, National Immunization Programme, and National TB/Leprosy Programme.
Why is pharmaceutical information management important in vertical programmes?
It supports evidence-based decisions, strengthens programme services, lowers operating costs, improves availability of medicines, supplies and reagents, supports monitoring of adherence and resistance, coordinates the supply system, and provides timely information for quantification, procurement planning, budgeting, resource mobilisation and programme management.
What is networking?
Networking is the connection of two or more devices so that they can communicate and share information and resources through physical or wireless connections.
Explain the importance of networking in pharmaceutical services.
Networking improves acquisition, delivery, stock and inventory control; gives pharmacists more time for clients; reduces waiting time, expenditure and manpower requirements; facilitates information sharing; supports recording, requesting and payment tracking; improves patient safety and quality of care; supplies product and price updates; and supports online or electronic prescribing.
Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers
All 42 questions from the preceding end-of-semester guide are retained. Each item is followed immediately by its answer and source-based explanation.
A report contains only facts that were actually observed or verified. Which principle is being applied?
Accuracy requires factual information, distinction between fact and opinion, and careful proofreading.
A writer includes every relevant finding and explains why some information is missing. Which principle is demonstrated?
Completeness means reporting all discovered facts and explaining incomplete or unavailable information.
Which action best supports conciseness in a health report?
Conciseness requires removal of unrelated, incidental and non-essential information.
A report writer presents favourable and unfavourable findings without personal bias. Which principle is applied?
Objectivity requires an unbiased mind and reporting evidence without addition, subtraction or concealment.
Dividing a report into clearly labelled sections mainly supports which principle?
Clear sections and logical arrangement help the reader understand and review the report.
Which practice is inconsistent with accurate report writing?
The guide directs the writer not to assume and to distinguish facts from hearsay, opinion and conclusions.
Why should pharmaceutical data be backed up before installing new software?
A backup protects valuable data before an important system change.
Which benefit of backup directly addresses accidental deletion by a tired user?
The facilitator guide calls this the “human eraser” problem; a backup can restore work deleted by mistake.
A hard disk fails without warning. What is the main value of an existing backup?
Backups protect against unpredictable disk failure by preserving recoverable copies.
A virus corrupts medicine-consumption files. Which backup benefit is most relevant?
A reliable backup can restore data lost through virus infection when used with virus detection software.
Moving rarely used files to a secondary medium can be important because it does what?
The guide identifies freeing disk space as one benefit of backing up and offloading inactive files.
Which statement best expresses the two central recovery purposes of data backup?
The guide gives two core purposes: recovery after deletion/corruption and recovery from an earlier time.
A malicious program activates on a specified calendar date. How is it classified?
A time bomb performs its activity at a particular date or time.
A destructive program acts after a defined event or condition occurs. How is it classified?
A logical bomb is triggered when a specified action or condition occurs.
Which threat can replicate across networks without requiring human action?
The guide states that a worm can replicate itself and does not require human action to spread.
A malicious file appears to be useful software and requires the user to run it. Which classification fits?
A Trojan horse appears useful but causes damage after the user installs or runs it.
A threat is loaded during system startup because it infects the boot area. What type is it?
Boot-sector viruses infect the boot sector and may load into memory during startup.
A malicious program spreads through infected word-processing or spreadsheet documents. What type is it?
Macro viruses are associated with application documents such as Word and Excel files.
What is the primary importance of antivirus software?
Antivirus software detects viruses, spyware, malware and other threats and removes them before damage occurs.
Why are regular antivirus-definition updates important?
New threats appear continually; updated definitions help antivirus software counter the latest threats.
Scanning a flash drive before opening it mainly provides which benefit?
The guide identifies quick scanning of removable devices as an antivirus benefit.
Which antivirus benefit limits unauthorised online threats during web use?
Antivirus software can control web activity and limit unauthorised online threats.
Protection against fraudulent attempts to steal or make data unusable is described as protection from what?
The guide lists protection from phishing attacks as an important antivirus benefit.
A two-way firewall feature in antivirus software is important because it can do what?
The guide explains that two-way firewall protection checks incoming and outgoing data and blocks suspicious traffic.
A health programme compares its target with actual results over time. Which importance of HMIS is illustrated?
HMIS supplies information needed to determine whether programme goals are being reached.
A district must decide which project needs more funding. Which HMIS function is most directly involved?
HMIS data supports planning and adequate allocation of limited resources.
The Ministry checks whether different health programmes are performing their assigned roles. Which importance of HMIS is shown?
HMIS supports coordination of activities by programmes and organisations.
Why is accurate facility and community data important when formulating health policy?
The guide states that health-policy formulation requires accurate and adequate data from facilities and communities.
Which group of activities summarises the main importance of HMIS in the facilitator guide?
The guide’s key points identify monitoring performance, planning and coordination.
What problem does HMIS help reduce when resources are limited?
HMIS provides evidence for deciding how human and non-human resources should be allocated.
How does pharmaceutical information management support vertical programmes?
The guide emphasises evidence-based decisions and timely information for managing pharmaceutical services.
Which result followed integration of logistics functions with vertical programmes?
The integration strengthened services, lowered operating costs and increased availability of medicines, supplies and reagents.
PMIS information on patient adherence and drug resistance is important mainly for what?
The guide lists adherence and resistance among the information required by policymakers, managers and providers.
Accurate information is needed for quantification, procurement planning and budgeting. Which selected task does this support?
The facilitator guide directly links accurate and timely information with quantification, procurement planning and budgeting.
Which activity was part of integrating pharmaceutical logistics with vertical programmes?
The guide lists coordination of procurement, storage and distribution as an integrated function.
Why are timely stock-status reports important to vertical programmes?
Timely stock-status reporting supports programme management and development-partner decisions.
Which is an important benefit of networking in pharmaceutical services?
Networking facilitates sharing of information with other service areas in a health facility.
How can networking affect client service in a pharmacy?
The facilitator guide states that networking can reduce client waiting time.
Which pharmacy activity is made easier by networking?
Networking helps handle recording, requests and payment-related business tasks efficiently.
Networking supports patient safety mainly by helping staff to do what?
The guide links networking with better information sharing, quality of care and monitoring medicine efficacy and safety.
Which online activity is enabled by pharmaceutical networking according to the guide?
Networking is used in online and electronic prescribing of medication.
How does networking improve pharmaceutical acquisition and inventory work?
The guide states that networking improves acquisition, deliveries, stock and inventory control.
Multiple True/False Statements with Answers
Write the full word TRUE or FALSE in the examination. The answer and explanation are shown after each statement.
Accuracy requires the writer to distinguish facts from opinions and hearsay.
This distinction is part of accurate reporting.
Completeness allows the writer to omit facts that seem unimportant without explanation.
The guide warns that information appearing irrelevant to the writer may be relevant to the reviewer.
Conciseness means using repetition and flowery language to make a report longer.
Conciseness removes repetition and non-essential detail.
Objectivity requires an unbiased and open mind.
The writer should avoid assumptions and emotional involvement.
Clear report formatting helps the reader review and understand the report.
Discrete sections and logical order support clarity.
A backup can help recover files deleted accidentally.
Recovery from deletion is a central purpose of backup.
A backup guarantees that a hard disk will never fail.
A backup does not prevent failure; it provides recoverable data.
An earlier clean backup may help restore data damaged by a virus.
The guide connects backup with recovery from virus-related loss.
Offloading rarely used files to secondary storage can free disk space.
This is one stated backup benefit.
Backing up before a major system change is unnecessary.
The guide recommends backing up before hardware or software changes.
A worm may spread without human action.
Worms self-replicate and can travel across networks.
A Trojan horse normally appears useful before causing damage.
This deceptive appearance is characteristic of a Trojan horse.
A time bomb is triggered by a particular date or time.
That is the defining classification used in the guide.
A macro virus is associated with documents created by applications such as Word or Excel.
Macro viruses can be loaded when infected application documents are opened.
A boot-sector virus is classified by its effect on report formatting.
It is classified by infection of the boot sector and loading during startup.
Antivirus software can detect and remove threats before they damage data.
This is its primary protective role.
Antivirus software never needs updated threat definitions.
Daily or regular definition updates help counter new threats.
Quick scanning of removable devices is one benefit of antivirus software.
The guide specifically identifies this benefit.
Protection from phishing attempts is unrelated to antivirus software.
The guide lists phishing protection as an antivirus benefit.
A two-way firewall feature can inspect incoming and outgoing traffic.
It can block suspicious transmissions.
HMIS information helps monitor whether health-programme goals are being achieved.
Monitoring performance is one of the three main importance areas.
Planning resource allocation does not require health data.
The guide states that allocation of human and non-human resources needs data.
HMIS supports coordination of national programmes and non-governmental organisations.
Coordination is a key importance of HMIS.
HMIS is important only for storing information and not for decision support.
The guide links HMIS with planning, management and decision making.
Accurate data from facilities and communities can support policy formulation.
This is included under planning.
PMIS helps staff make evidence-based pharmaceutical decisions.
It integrates data collection, processing and presentation for decisions.
Integration with vertical programmes increased operating costs and reduced medicine availability.
The guide states the opposite: costs were lowered and availability improved.
Information on adherence, resistance and medicine availability supports effective programme management.
These are among the information needs listed in the guide.
Quantification and procurement planning can be done accurately without timely information.
The guide stresses the need for accurate and timely information.
Stock-status reporting is one integrated function supporting vertical programmes.
Timely stock-status reports are specifically listed.
Networking can facilitate sharing pharmaceutical information between service areas.
Information sharing is a direct benefit.
Networking always increases client waiting time.
The guide states that it can reduce waiting time.
Networking may support recording drugs, requesting items and tracking payments.
These business tasks are listed in the guide.
Networking has no relationship to medicine-safety monitoring.
It can support monitoring efficacy and safety of medicines in use.
Online medicine-price updates and electronic prescribing are supported by networking.
Both uses are identified in the facilitator guide.
Matching Items with Answer Keys
Report-writing principles
Column A
| 1 | Accuracy |
| 2 | Completeness |
| 3 | Conciseness |
| 4 | Objectivity |
| 5 | Clarity and formatting |
Column B
| A | Presents evidence without bias or concealment |
| B | Uses factual, verified information and separates fact from opinion |
| C | Includes all relevant findings and explains gaps |
| D | Arranges content so it is easy to understand |
| E | Removes unrelated and repetitive detail |
- 1 – B: Accuracy — Uses factual, verified information and separates fact from opinion
- 2 – C: Completeness — Includes all relevant findings and explains gaps
- 3 – E: Conciseness — Removes unrelated and repetitive detail
- 4 – A: Objectivity — Presents evidence without bias or concealment
- 5 – D: Clarity and formatting — Arranges content so it is easy to understand
Computer-virus classification
Column A
| 1 | Time bomb |
| 2 | Logical bomb |
| 3 | Worm |
| 4 | Trojan horse |
| 5 | Macro virus |
Column B
| A | Spreads through infected application documents |
| B | Appears useful but damages the system when run |
| C | Activates on a specified date or time |
| D | Replicates and spreads across networks |
| E | Activates when a specified condition occurs |
- 1 – C: Time bomb — Activates on a specified date or time
- 2 – E: Logical bomb — Activates when a specified condition occurs
- 3 – D: Worm — Replicates and spreads across networks
- 4 – B: Trojan horse — Appears useful but damages the system when run
- 5 – A: Macro virus — Spreads through infected application documents
Antivirus benefits
Column A
| 1 | Virus and spyware protection |
| 2 | Phishing protection |
| 3 | Web protection |
| 4 | Removable-device scan |
| 5 | Two-way firewall |
Column B
| A | Checks external media for unknown threats |
| B | Detects and removes harmful programs |
| C | Blocks suspicious incoming and outgoing transmission |
| D | Limits unauthorised online threats |
| E | Helps prevent fraudulent attempts to steal or corrupt data |
- 1 – B: Virus and spyware protection — Detects and removes harmful programs
- 2 – E: Phishing protection — Helps prevent fraudulent attempts to steal or corrupt data
- 3 – D: Web protection — Limits unauthorised online threats
- 4 – A: Removable-device scan — Checks external media for unknown threats
- 5 – C: Two-way firewall — Blocks suspicious incoming and outgoing transmission
Information-management importance
Column A
| 1 | HMIS monitoring |
| 2 | HMIS planning |
| 3 | PMIS in vertical programmes |
| 4 | Networking information sharing |
| 5 | Networking client service |
Column B
| A | Helps allocate limited resources using evidence |
| B | Reduces waiting time and supports efficient service |
| C | Shows whether health goals are being reached |
| D | Supports quantification, procurement and programme decisions |
| E | Allows pharmaceutical information to move between service areas |
- 1 – C: HMIS monitoring — Shows whether health goals are being reached
- 2 – A: HMIS planning — Helps allocate limited resources using evidence
- 3 – D: PMIS in vertical programmes — Supports quantification, procurement and programme decisions
- 4 – E: Networking information sharing — Allows pharmaceutical information to move between service areas
- 5 – B: Networking client service — Reduces waiting time and supports efficient service
Short-Answer Questions with Model Answers
State six basic principles of good report writing.
Accuracy; completeness; conciseness; impartiality/objectivity; clarity; and proper report formatting.
Explain four ways of maintaining accuracy in a report.
Use factual and verifiable information; distinguish fact from hearsay, opinion and conclusion; avoid jargon and clarify technical terms; proofread and rewrite unclear or incorrect parts. Other guide-based accuracy practices include avoiding emotional bias and unsupported assumptions.
Explain the meaning of completeness in report writing.
Completeness means reporting all relevant facts discovered, avoiding partially stated facts, explaining why information is missing or incomplete, and identifying possible sources of additional information.
Differentiate conciseness from objectivity.
Conciseness removes unrelated, repetitive and non-essential detail so the report has a single clear purpose. Objectivity presents evidence impartially without assumptions, concealment, addition, subtraction or emotional bias.
Give four reasons why pharmaceutical data should be backed up.
To recover accidentally deleted or corrupted data; to recover an earlier version; to protect against unpredictable hard-disk failure; to restore data after virus or spyware damage; to save reconstruction time after human error; and to free primary-disk space by moving inactive files.
Explain the ‘human eraser’ as an importance of backup.
A tired or unprepared user can delete or overwrite valuable information very quickly. A backup can save hours, days or months that would otherwise be spent reconstructing the lost data.
How does backup protect an organisation from hard-disk failure?
Because disk failure can occur unpredictably, a backup preserves another copy of important files that can be restored when the original disk becomes inaccessible.
Explain how backup and antivirus software complement each other.
Antivirus software detects or removes threats, while a clean earlier backup provides a copy from which corrupted or deleted information can be restored. Backup does not replace antivirus protection, and antivirus does not replace backup.
Classify any five computer-virus or malicious-threat types described in the facilitator guide.
Time bomb, logical bomb, worm, Trojan horse, boot-sector virus, macro virus and blended threat are acceptable guide-based classifications. Malware/spyware is discussed as malicious software rather than strictly a virus.
Differentiate a worm from a Trojan horse.
A worm replicates itself and can spread across networks without human action. A Trojan horse appears to be useful or legitimate software, requires a user to run it, and then causes damage or opens unauthorised access; it does not spread like a worm.
Differentiate a time bomb from a logical bomb.
A time bomb is triggered by a particular date or time. A logical bomb is triggered when a specified event, action or condition occurs.
Explain macro-virus and boot-sector-virus classifications.
A macro virus is associated with application documents such as Word or Excel files and may load when an infected document is opened. A boot-sector virus infects the computer’s boot area and may load into main memory during system startup.
State six benefits of antivirus software.
Protection from viruses and spyware; protection from phishing attacks; robust web protection; quick scanning of removable devices; two-way firewall protection; blocking spam sites or advertisements; password protection; and possible performance improvement through removal of unwanted files.
Why should antivirus software be updated regularly?
New viruses and online threats appear continually. Updated antivirus definitions allow the program to recognise and counter recent threats and provide continuing protection.
Explain two-way firewall protection as a benefit of antivirus software.
It checks incoming and outgoing internet traffic or mail and blocks transmission that appears suspicious according to security rules.
Explain how antivirus software protects removable devices and web activity.
It can scan a connected removable device before files are opened and remove detected threats. It can also monitor web activity and limit unauthorised online threats.
Explain the three main importance areas of HMIS.
Monitoring performance: provides information to determine whether programme goals are being reached. Planning: supports allocation of limited human, financial and material resources and policy formulation. Coordination: helps the Ministry assess and coordinate the work of health programmes and organisations.
How does HMIS support monitoring performance?
It supplies the information needed to compare programme goals and targets with actual progress and to monitor improvement in health-care delivery.
How does HMIS support planning?
It provides evidence for deciding which activities need more resources, allocating human and non-human resources, and formulating health policies using facility and community data.
How does HMIS support coordination?
It enables the Ministry of Health to coordinate activities of national programmes and non-governmental organisations and determine whether they are performing their expected roles.
Explain six ways pharmaceutical information management benefits vertical programmes.
It supports evidence-based decisions; lowers operating costs through integration; improves availability of medicines, supplies and reagents; supports monitoring of adherence, resistance, patient safety, product quality and financing; provides relevant, accurate and timely supply information; and supports quantification, procurement planning, budgeting, resource mobilisation and programme management.
State three logistics functions integrated with vertical programmes.
Coordination of procurement, storage and distribution; management of receipts of medicines, supplies and laboratory reagents from programmes and partners; and timely reporting of stock status to programmes and development partners.
Why are accurate and timely data essential in vertical programmes?
They are required for sound decisions, coordination of the supply system, quantification, procurement planning, budgeting, mobilisation of resources and management of programme medicines and supplies.
What information may programme managers monitor through effective PMIS?
Patient adherence, drug resistance, availability of medicines and laboratory supplies, patient safety, post-market intelligence, product registration and quality, financing and programme management.
Explain six benefits of networking in pharmaceutical services.
It improves acquisition and delivery of materials; supports stock and inventory control; gives staff more time for clients; reduces waiting time, expenditure and manpower needs; facilitates information sharing among service areas; supports efficient recording, ordering and payment tracking; improves patient safety and quality of care; provides price and product updates; and supports online or electronic prescribing.
How does networking improve patient care?
It supports rapid sharing of information, reduces waiting time, helps monitor medicine efficacy and safety, and enables better quality of care and electronic prescribing.
How does networking improve pharmacy business operations?
It makes it easier to record drugs, request consumable and non-consumable items, track stock, process or follow medicine bills and obtain product or price updates.
Explain the value of sharing information through a pharmaceutical network.
Shared information connects pharmacy and other service areas, supports coordinated decisions, reduces delays and duplication, and improves availability of current medicine and patient information.
Guided Essay Questions with Answer Guides
For the examination, begin with a short introduction, explain the required points in a logical order and end with a brief conclusion.
A pharmacy supervisor receives a poorly written monthly report containing unsupported opinions, repeated statements, missing findings and unclear headings. Discuss how the six principles of good report writing should be applied to improve it.
Introduction: explain that good reporting communicates reliable evidence for action. Main body: explain accuracy, completeness, conciseness, objectivity, clarity and formatting, applying each to the weaknesses in the scenario. Conclusion: state that applying all six principles produces a factual, complete, readable and unbiased report.
A health facility loses several months of pharmaceutical records after accidental deletion and hard-disk failure. Discuss the importance of establishing a reliable data-backup practice.
Introduction: define backup only briefly as context. Main body: recovery after deletion or corruption; recovery of earlier versions; protection from human error; protection from hard-disk failure; recovery after virus or spyware damage; saving reconstruction time; freeing disk space by archiving inactive data. Conclusion: backup preserves continuity and protects valuable pharmaceutical information.
Classify and explain the main malicious threats described in the facilitator guide, showing how their mode of activation or spread differs.
Explain time bomb, logical bomb, worm, Trojan horse, boot-sector virus, macro virus and blended threat. For each, state its defining activation or spread characteristic. Conclude that correct classification supports recognition and control of threats.
A pharmacy computer is frequently connected to the internet and receives files through flash drives. Discuss the importance of antivirus software in this setting.
Introduction: antivirus is a security utility for threats. Main body: virus and spyware protection; phishing protection; web protection; removable-device scanning; firewall control; blocking spam or malicious sites; password protection; regular updates; possible performance improvement. Conclusion: antivirus reduces the risk of data loss and unauthorised access but should be used with backups.
Discuss the importance of HMIS to a district health-management team responsible for several facilities and health programmes.
Introduction: HMIS provides information for management decisions. Main body: monitoring targets and health-care improvement; planning limited resources; allocating human and non-human resources; formulating policy from facility and community data; coordinating programmes and organisations; assessing whether actors perform expected roles. Conclusion: HMIS links reliable information with monitoring, planning and coordination.
A vertical health programme experiences stock shortages, weak quantification and delayed decisions. Discuss how pharmaceutical information management can improve the programme.
Introduction: PMIS integrates pharmaceutical data for decisions. Main body: timely stock-status reporting; evidence-based decisions; improved procurement, storage and distribution; better availability; lower operating costs; monitoring adherence, resistance, safety and product quality; accurate quantification, budgeting and resource mobilisation; improved coordination with partners. Conclusion: timely and accurate pharmaceutical information strengthens programme performance.
Discuss the importance of computer networking in a hospital pharmacy that must communicate with stores, clinics, accounts and prescribers.
Introduction: networking connects devices and users to share resources and information. Main body: interdepartmental sharing; acquisition and delivery support; stock and inventory control; reduced waiting time and expenditure; efficient recording and requests; bill tracking; patient-safety and quality monitoring; product and price updates; electronic prescribing. Conclusion: networking improves speed, coordination and quality of pharmaceutical services.
Explain why data backup and antivirus software should be used together to protect pharmaceutical information.
Introduction: the two controls have different but complementary roles. Main body: antivirus detects and blocks threats; updates maintain recognition; web and removable-media scans reduce infection; firewall and phishing protection reduce unauthorised access; backup restores deleted, corrupted or infected files; earlier copies protect against user error and disk failure; offloading can preserve space. Conclusion: neither control fully replaces the other.
Discuss how HMIS and pharmaceutical information management together support evidence-based management of a vertical programme.
Explain HMIS monitoring, planning and coordination, then connect PMIS to stock status, medicine availability, quantification, procurement, budgeting, adherence, resistance, safety and partner coordination. Conclude that general health information and pharmaceutical information together support complete programme decisions.
A pharmaceutical team uses a network to share a report with several departments. Explain how networking benefits dissemination and how report-writing principles protect the quality of the shared information.
Networking enables rapid sharing, coordination, reduced delays and access to current information. Report principles ensure the disseminated content is accurate, complete, concise, objective, clear and properly formatted. Conclude that fast dissemination is useful only when the information itself is reliable and understandable.
Complete Sample End-of-Semester Theory Paper
SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS — 10 MARKS
A report contains only facts that were actually observed or verified. Which principle is being applied?
- A. Accuracy
- B. Completeness
- C. Conciseness
- D. Planning
- E. Coordination
Which action best supports conciseness in a health report?
- A. Adding repeated explanations
- B. Using flowery expressions
- C. Removing unrelated details
- D. Hiding unfavourable findings
- E. Using vague statements
Which benefit of backup directly addresses accidental deletion by a tired user?
- A. Human-error recovery
- B. Electronic selling
- C. Report objectivity
- D. Programme coordination
- E. Network sharing
A malicious program activates on a specified calendar date. How is it classified?
- A. Time bomb
- B. Worm
- C. Macro virus
- D. Boot-sector virus
- E. Trojan horse
A malicious file appears to be useful software and requires the user to run it. Which classification fits?
- A. Trojan horse
- B. Worm
- C. Boot-sector virus
- D. Time bomb
- E. Macro virus
Why are regular antivirus-definition updates important?
- A. They help the software recognise new threats
- B. They replace every backup
- C. They create a network automatically
- D. They prepare HMIS plans
- E. They guarantee perfect report grammar
A health programme compares its target with actual results over time. Which importance of HMIS is illustrated?
- A. Monitoring performance
- B. Classifying viruses
- C. Formatting reports
- D. Electronic dispensing
- E. Freeing disk space
Which group of activities summarises the main importance of HMIS in the facilitator guide?
- A. Monitoring, planning and coordination
- B. Invoicing, selling and advertising
- C. Typing, printing and scanning
- D. Formatting, deleting and renaming
- E. Encrypting, cabling and browsing
Which activity was part of integrating pharmaceutical logistics with vertical programmes?
- A. Coordinating procurement, storage and distribution
- B. Removing all stock-status reports
- C. Stopping receipt management
- D. Avoiding development partners
- E. Deleting laboratory-reagent data
Networking supports patient safety mainly by helping staff to do what?
- A. Share information and monitor medicine efficacy and safety
- B. Delete pharmaceutical data
- C. Avoid product updates
- D. Stop communication between departments
- E. Increase expenditure
SECTION B: MULTIPLE TRUE/FALSE — 10 MARKS
Write TRUE or FALSE for each statement. Each correct response carries 0.5 mark.
- Accuracy requires the writer to distinguish facts from opinions and hearsay.
- A backup guarantees that a hard disk will never fail.
- A time bomb is triggered by a particular date or time.
- Quick scanning of removable devices is one benefit of antivirus software.
- HMIS information helps monitor whether health-programme goals are being achieved.
- Integration with vertical programmes increased operating costs and reduced medicine availability.
- Networking can facilitate sharing pharmaceutical information between service areas.
- Online medicine-price updates and electronic prescribing are supported by networking.
- Protection from phishing attempts is unrelated to antivirus software.
- Accurate data from facilities and communities can support policy formulation.
- Backing up before a major system change is unnecessary.
- Antivirus software can detect and remove threats before they damage data.
- HMIS supports coordination of national programmes and non-governmental organisations.
- Quantification and procurement planning can be done accurately without timely information.
- Networking may support recording drugs, requesting items and tracking payments.
- Objectivity requires an unbiased and open mind.
- An earlier clean backup may help restore data damaged by a virus.
- A macro virus is associated with documents created by applications such as Word or Excel.
- Planning resource allocation does not require health data.
- Stock-status reporting is one integrated function supporting vertical programmes.
SECTION C: MATCHING ITEMS — 10 MARKS
Question 6A: Match the five report-writing principles with their descriptions. (5 marks)
Question 6B: Match the five virus classifications with their descriptions. (5 marks)
SECTION D: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS — 40 MARKS
- State six basic principles of good report writing.
- Explain the ‘human eraser’ as an importance of backup.
- Differentiate a worm from a Trojan horse.
- Why should antivirus software be updated regularly?
- Explain the three main importance areas of HMIS.
- Explain six ways pharmaceutical information management benefits vertical programmes.
- Explain six benefits of networking in pharmaceutical services.
- How does networking improve pharmacy business operations?
SECTION E: GUIDED ESSAY QUESTIONS — 30 MARKS
- A pharmacy supervisor receives a poorly written monthly report containing unsupported opinions, repeated statements, missing findings and unclear headings. Discuss how the six principles of good report writing should be applied to improve it.
- Discuss the importance of computer networking in a hospital pharmacy that must communicate with stores, clinics, accounts and prescribers.
Answer Guide for the Sample Theory Paper
- 1. A — Accuracy requires factual information, distinction between fact and opinion, and careful proofreading.
- 2. C — Conciseness requires removal of unrelated, incidental and non-essential information.
- 3. A — The facilitator guide calls this the “human eraser” problem; a backup can restore work deleted by mistake.
- 4. A — A time bomb performs its activity at a particular date or time.
- 5. A — A Trojan horse appears useful but causes damage after the user installs or runs it.
- 6. A — New threats appear continually; updated definitions help antivirus software counter the latest threats.
- 7. A — HMIS supplies information needed to determine whether programme goals are being reached.
- 8. A — The guide’s key points identify monitoring performance, planning and coordination.
- 9. A — The guide lists coordination of procurement, storage and distribution as an integrated function.
- 10. A — The guide links networking with better information sharing, quality of care and monitoring medicine efficacy and safety.
- Section B, Question 2: TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE
- Section B, Question 3: FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE
- Section B, Question 4: FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE
- Section B, Question 5: TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE
- 7. Accuracy; completeness; conciseness; impartiality/objectivity; clarity; and proper report formatting.
- 8. A tired or unprepared user can delete or overwrite valuable information very quickly. A backup can save hours, days or months that would otherwise be spent reconstructing the lost data.
- 9. A worm replicates itself and can spread across networks without human action. A Trojan horse appears to be useful or legitimate software, requires a user to run it, and then causes damage or opens unauthorised access; it does not spread like a worm.
- 10. New viruses and online threats appear continually. Updated antivirus definitions allow the program to recognise and counter recent threats and provide continuing protection.
- 11. Monitoring performance: provides information to determine whether programme goals are being reached. Planning: supports allocation of limited human, financial and material resources and policy formulation. Coordination: helps the Ministry assess and coordinate the work of health programmes and organisations.
- 12. It supports evidence-based decisions; lowers operating costs through integration; improves availability of medicines, supplies and reagents; supports monitoring of adherence, resistance, patient safety, product quality and financing; provides relevant, accurate and timely supply information; and supports quantification, procurement planning, budgeting, resource mobilisation and programme management.
- 13. It improves acquisition and delivery of materials; supports stock and inventory control; gives staff more time for clients; reduces waiting time, expenditure and manpower needs; facilitates information sharing among service areas; supports efficient recording, ordering and payment tracking; improves patient safety and quality of care; provides price and product updates; and supports online or electronic prescribing.
- 14. It makes it easier to record drugs, request consumable and non-consumable items, track stock, process or follow medicine bills and obtain product or price updates.
- 15. Introduction: explain that good reporting communicates reliable evidence for action. Main body: explain accuracy, completeness, conciseness, objectivity, clarity and formatting, applying each to the weaknesses in the scenario. Conclusion: state that applying all six principles produces a factual, complete, readable and unbiased report.
- 16. Introduction: networking connects devices and users to share resources and information. Main body: interdepartmental sharing; acquisition and delivery support; stock and inventory control; reduced waiting time and expenditure; efficient recording and requests; bill tracking; patient-safety and quality monitoring; product and price updates; electronic prescribing. Conclusion: networking improves speed, coordination and quality of pharmaceutical services.
Section C answers
6A: Accuracy → factual and verified information; Completeness → all relevant findings and explained gaps; Conciseness → removal of repetition and non-essential detail; Objectivity → unbiased presentation; Clarity/formatting → logical, understandable sections.
6B: Time bomb → date/time trigger; Logical bomb → event/condition trigger; Worm → self-replication across networks; Trojan horse → appears useful but damages when run; Macro virus → spreads through application documents.
End-of-Semester Practical Guide
5.1.1 RT (b): Electronic filing and data security
Create a logical folder arrangement, use meaningful file names, protect completed records, control access, limit printing or sharing, use passwords or encryption where required, apply antivirus and firewall protection, create backups and separate active from inactive records.
5.1.2 RTs (c), (d): Graphs, histograms, trends and problems
Enter and verify data, select the correct range, generate a suitable graph or histogram, add titles and labels, identify increasing, decreasing, constant or irregular trends and state the service problem shown by the pattern.
5.1.3 RTs (b), (c): Prepare and present a report
Prepare a clear report containing accurate data, organised findings, a conclusion and recommendations. Apply the six principles of report writing, format the report in a word processor and prepare a brief presentation whose visual content agrees with the written report.
5.1.4 RT (g): Search for information
Open a browser, enter clear search terms, review the results, choose the most relevant source, refine the terms when necessary and record or save the required information together with its source.
5.1.5 RTs (c), (d), (f): Invoicing, dispensing and inventory
Prepare an electronic invoice, record a dispensing transaction and update stock after receipts, issues, adjustments or physical inventory. Verify the details before saving or submitting the transaction.
5.2.2 RT (d): Generate an HMIS/MTUHA report
Use authorised login details, select the correct organisation unit and reporting period, confirm data entry and validation, generate the required report, check completeness and accuracy, save or export the report and log out.
5.2.3 RT (c): Prepare a report from analysed data
Identify a trend, recognise the pharmaceutical-service problem, compare relevant service and logistics information, and prepare a short report containing the period, findings, interpretation, problem and recommended action.
General evidence expected from a competent candidate
- Correct use of the assigned computer package or database.
- Accurate data entry and verification.
- Logical file names and correct saving location.
- Outputs that agree with the supplied source data.
- Clear titles, labels, findings and conclusions.
- Appropriate security, backup and logout procedures.
- Ability to explain the result and the action required.
Complete Facilitator Guide Notes for All Practical-Assessment Source Sessions
Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 1: Organization of Health Related Data Using Computer Packages (guide pages 1–16)
Session 1: Organization of Health Related Data Using
Computer Packages
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
• Explain concepts of electronic data storage and arrangement
• Demonstrate electronic filing and application of security to electronic data
• Explain the methods of summarizing data
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers
• Computer and LCD projector
• Antivirus disc
• Peripheral storage devices
• Worksheet 1.1: The difficulties in patient registration process
1SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Step Title
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Tasks
Brain storming
2 05 minutes Definition of Data Storage
Presentation
Brain storming
3 25 minutes Electronic Data Storage and Management
Presentation
Electronic Filing and Application of
4 35 minutes Presentation
Security to Electronic Data
5 35 minutes Presentation Methods of Summarizing Data
6 05 minutes Presentation Key points
7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
8 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (05 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing
STEP 2: Definition of Data Storage (05 minutes)
Activity: Brain storming (2 minutes)
Ask students to brainstorm on the following question:
• What is data storage?
ALLOW a few students to respond
WRITE their responses on the flip chart/ board
CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below
2• Data storage
o Data storage is the recording (storing) of information (data) in a storage medium.
o Handwriting, phonographic recording, magnetic tape, and optical discs are all
examples of storage media.
STEP 3: Electronic Data Storage and Management (30 minutes)
Activity: Brain storming (2 minutes)
Ask students to brainstorm on the following question:
• What is electronic data storage?
• What are the media and equipment used for electronic data storage?
ALLOW a few students to respond
WRITE their responses on the flip chart/ board
CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below
• Electronic data storage is the means of storing soft data information in given format
like Music, Video, Document or Pictures in a device which could be a flash disk or
rather a hard disk drive
• Electronic data storage requires electrical power to store and retrieve data.
• Data stored in a digital machine-readable medium is sometimes called digital data.
• Computer data storage is one of the core functions of a general purpose computer.
• Electronic documents can be stored in much less space than paper documents.
• Barcodes and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) are two ways of
recording machine-readable data on paper.
• Three common types data storage are: hard drive, USB flash drive and memory card.
• Hard drive (HD)
o The term "hard drive" is actually short for "hard disk drive."
o The term "hard disk" refers to the actual disks inside the drive.
o The hard drive is a non-volatile memory hardware device that permanently stores
and retrieves data on a computer.
▪ Non-volatile memory is a term used to describe any memory or storage that is
saved regardless if the power to the computer is on or off.
3 ▪ The best example of non-volatile memory and storage is a computer hard
drive, flash memory, and ROM.
o A hard drive is a secondary storage device that consists of one or more platters to
which data is written using a magnetic head, all inside of an air-sealed casing.
o A typical hard drive is only slightly larger than a human hand and can hold over
100 GB of data.
• USB flash drive
o A USB flash drive is a device used for data storage that includes a flash memory
and an integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
o Most USB flash drives are removable and rewritable.
o Physically, they are small, durable and reliable.
o The larger their storage space, the faster they tend to operate.
o USB flash drives are mechanically very robust because there are no moving parts.
o They derive the power to operate from the device to which they are connected
(typically a computer) via the USB port.
o A USB flash drive may also be known as a flash drive or USB drive.
• Memory card
o A memory card is a type of storage device that is used for storing media and data
files.
o It provides a permanent and non-volatile medium to store data and files from the
attached device.
o Memory cards are commonly used in small, portable devices, such as cameras and
phones.
o The most common type of data that’s being stored on a memory card include
videos, pictures, audio and other types of file formats.
o Some of the most popular forms of memory cards are:
▪ Secure Digital (SD) card
▪ CompactFlash (CF) card
▪ Smart Media
▪ Memory Stick
▪ Multi Media Card (MMC)
• In the healthcare system, data are store in the electronic systems, and these systems
are called electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR)
• Electronic Health Records
o An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart.
4 o It contains a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans,
immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test results in
electronic format.
o It is health information that is created and managed by authorized providers in a
digital format capable of being shared with other providers across more than one
health care organization.
• Electronic Medical Records
o Electronic medical records (EMRs) are a digital version of the paper based
charts/form in the clinician’s office.
o EMR contain medical information used by clinicians mostly for diagnosis and
treatment..
o An EMR contains the medical and treatment history of the patients in one practice.
o Information in EMRs cannot easily be shared out of the medical practice.
o The patient’s record can easily be printed out and shared with other members of the
care team.
STEP 4: Filing and Application of Security to Data (35 minutes)
• Retrieval
o Paper Based System
▪ During normal business hours requests for thinned or discharged health records
should be coordinated through the HIM staff.
▪ It is recommended that a process be in place to track the locations and holders
of the health record.
▪ This can be accomplished through a record check out system.
▪ A reasonable length of time should be identified for which a record can be
checked out.
o Hybrid or Electronic System
▪ Appropriate access levels should be given based on the needs of the staff
member to perform their job.
▪ Completed records upon discharge would be locked and only available as read-
only.
▪ There should be a limited number of staff members with printing capabilities.
o After Hours Retrieval – Paper Based System
▪ Every facility should have a process in place for after hour retrieval of records
in case of an emergency.
5 ▪ Because evening and night shift staff may have to complete deficient discharge
records or have access to an overflow record, the supervisor should have keys to
access the department and be trained in retrieval, the sign-out process, and other
security measures.
▪ Department procedures should track who has keys to the department and
documentation of their training on filing and retrieval procedures.
o After Hours Retrieval – Hybrid or Electronic System
▪ If using a hybrid or electronic health record consider if parts of the electronic
health record need to be printed during the duration of the stay or upon
discharge.
▪ This will depend on how the health record is defined within the organization
and electronic storage capabilities.
• Filing
o Paper based system
▪ Filing of all documents that should be part of the complete health records are
added to the discharge record, preferably prior to completion.
▪ As with the addition of any document to the record, care should be taken to
verify the resident name prior to inserting the document in the record.
o Hybrid system
▪ The facility policies and procedures should determine which parts of the record
will be paper based and which parts are stored in a data repository.
▪ This policy should also determine whether or not additional documents should
be added as paper based documents or scanned into the data repository.
▪ If documents are added to the electronic portion of the record after this has been
completed, these should be added as addendums.
o Electronic record
▪ The facility policies and procedures should allow for the capture of additional
material for the electronic record through a system of scanning to the file.
▪ If the record has been determined to be complete and additional paperwork is
discovered, these documents should be added as addendums.
▪ The electronic system should be able to separate the active from the inactive
record within the data base
• Ways of improve electronic patient data security
o Do a security risk assessment
6 ▪ Information security risk assessment is an on-going process of discovering,
correcting and preventing security problems.
▪ The risk assessment is an integral part of a risk management process designed to
provide appropriate levels of security for information systems.
▪ Security risk assessments must be performed annually to meet the criteria of the
meaningful use of an HER
o Encrypt data
▪ Encryption is the process of encoding a message or information in such a way
that only authorized parties can access it and those who are not authorized
cannot.
▪ Patient data should be encrypted whenever possible
▪ Antivirus programs and firewalls to defend the privacy and security of data
should be installed in the system
▪ Use password to protect data from being accessed with unauthorized persons
o Control system access
▪ Access control is a key component of patient data security.
▪ There are two main types of access control: physical and logical.
▪ Physical access control limits access to buildings, rooms and physical IT assets
where patient data are stored.
▪ Logical access limits connections to computer networks, system files and health
data.
o Authenticate users
▪ Authentication is the process of recognizing a user’s identity.
▪ Authentication process can be described in two distinct phases: identification
and actual authentication.
▪ Identification phase provides a user identity to the security system and this
identity is provided in the form of a user ID.
▪ An actual user can be mapped to other abstract user object in the system, and
therefore be granted rights and permissions to the user and user must give
evidence to prove his identity to the system.
▪ The process of determining claimed user identity by checking user-provided
evidence is called authentication and the evidence which is provided by the user
during process of authentication is called a credential.
o Use and scan audit logs
▪ An audit log is a document that records an event in an information (IT)
technology system.
7 ▪ It is a security-relevant chronological record, set of records, destination and
source of records that provide documentary evidence of the sequence of
activities that have affected at any time a specific operation, procedure, or event.
▪ It documents what resources were accessed; audit log entries usually include
destination and source addresses, timestamp and user login information.
▪ EHRs have audit logs that record which user did what in the EHR and when.
▪ Most of hospitals that practices EHR were using their audit logs or another
feature designed to prevent people from tampering with the logs to erase the
signs of an intruder.
▪ EHR practices need software that automatically scans their audit logs to detect
anomalies that might indicate a cyber-attack, such as an unfamiliar user or a
known user logging on at an unusual time of the day.
o Back up data off site
▪ An offsite backup is a backup process or facility that stores backup data or
applications external to the organization or core IT environment.
▪ It is similar to a standard backup process, but uses a facility or storage media
that is not physically located within the organization's core infrastructure.
▪ The institution that practices EHR should have off site backup, both for security
purposes and also for the case of natural disasters.
STEP 5: Methods of Summarizing Data (35 minutes)
• Table, Graph and charts are commonly used in presenting and summarizing data
• Table (Tabulation)
o The process of placing classified data into tabular form is known as tabulation
o A table is a symmetric arrangement of statistical data in rows and columns
o Rows are horizontal arrangements whereas columns are vertical arrangements
8 Table 1: Number of patients admitted at Mount Meru hospital in the year 2011
NUMBER OF PATIENTS
AGE
Below 35 1,280
35-55 1,160
Above 55 300
Total 2,740
• Line graph
o A line graph is a graphical tool used to present and compare two variables.
o One variable is represented at X axis and other at Y axis.
o The points given are plotted and are joined together by straight lines.
Figure 1: Annual sales of a particular organization
• Simple Bar chart
o A simple bar chart is used to represents data involving only one variable classified
on spatial, quantitative or temporal basis
Figure 2: Hospital Patients by unit
Hospital Patients by Unit
5000
4000
patients per year
Number of
3000
2000
1000
0
Emergency
Maternity
Surgery
Cardiac
Intensive
Care
Care
9• Multiple bar chart
o A two or more sets of inter-related data are represented.
o Multiple bar diagram facilities comparison between more than one phenomena.
Figure 3: The number of Male and Female Cataract at Mwembetogwa ward
THE NUMBER OF MALE & FEMALE CATARACT
SCREENING AT MWEMBETOGWA WARD FROM 1991-1995
14000
12000
10000
NO. Clients
8000 Male
6000 Female
4000
2000
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Years
• Component bar chart
o Sub-divided or component bar chart is used to represent data in which the total
magnitude is divided into different or components
Figure 4: The Diabetic Tablets produced from 1991-1994
THE DIABETIC TABLETS IN 100 gms/BOX PRODUCED FROM 1991-
1994
120
100
Quantity in 100 gms
80
Glimepiride
Glyburide
60
Glipizide
Chlorpromide
40
20
0
1991 1992 1993 1994
Years
• Percentage component bar chart
o Sub-divided bar chart may be drawn on percentage basis
o This type of chart is useful to make comparison in components holding the
difference of total constant
10 Figure 5: Inpatient cases at Medical ward-MNH 1991-1994
INPATIENT CASES IN HUNDRED AT MEDICAL WARD-MNH
FROM 1991-1994
100%
90%
Number of Cases in %
80%
70%
60% MTA
50% HIV/AIDS
40% Malaria
30%
20%
10%
0%
1991 1992 1993 1994
Years
• Pie chart
o Pie chart is named so, due to its similarity with pie and its slices.
o Pie chart is a circular chart which is divided into sectors.
o Each sector corresponds to different values of a data.
o In pie charts, the percentage of each number is calculated and then obtained
percentages are plotted at pie chart.
Figure 6: Hospital Patients by Unit
Hospital Patients by Unit
Cardiac
Care
12%
Emergenc
Surgery y
53% 25%
Intensive
Care
Maternity 4%
6%
• Histogram
o A bar graph that displays the data from a frequency distribution
o Horizontal Scale (x-axis) is labeled using CLASS BOUNDARIES or
MIDPOINTS
o Vertical Scale (y-axis) is labeled using frequency
o Bars are contiguous (No gaps)
11 Figure 7: Time to complete blood transfusion
Time to Complete Blood Transfusion
30
Fr 25
eq
ue 20
nc
y 15 Frequenc y
10
5
0
235.5 260.5 285.5 310.5 335.5 360.5
Minutes
• Frequency polygon
o It presented by using Line graph rather than a bar graph.
o It uses class midpoints rather than class boundaries on x-axis
Figure 8: Frequency polygon for Blood pressure data
Frequency Polygon for B.P.
18
16
14
12
Frequency
10
8
6
4
2
0
92.5 106.5 120.5 134.5 148.5 162.5 176.5 190.5 204.5 218.5
Systolic Pressure
• Ogive
o Line graph (rather than a bar graph)
o Uses class boundaries on x-axis
o Uses cumulative frequencies (total as you go) rather than individual class
frequencies
o Used to visually represent how many values are below a specified upper class
boundary
12 Figure 9: Blood Pressure of fifty subjects
Blood Pressures of 50 Subjects
60
Cummulative Frequency
50
40
30
20
10
0
99.5 127.5 155.5 183.5 211.5
Systolic Pressure
STEP 6: Key Points (05 minutes)
• Data are stored through recording in the storage media.
• Hybrid electronic system is a filing technique that combined electronic records and
paper-based records in data storage practices.
• Data should be protected to avoid stolen of data by unauthorized person.
• Diagram, graphs and number are the main techniques of summarizing health data.
STEP 7: Evaluation (05 minutes)
• What is electronic data storage?
• What is data security?
• What kind of data presented by using graph?
• What kind of data presented by using diagram?
13STEP 8: Assignment (05 minutes)
Activity: Group assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Describe the three main security measures that you can use to mitigate data
management process at pharmacy information system.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
14References
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es Salaam
United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Strategy for
Development and Implementation of an Integrated Logistics System for Essential
Health Commodities: Government printers, Dar es Salaam
USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, Task Order 1. 2011. Tanzania: 2020 Supply Chain
Modeling—Forecasting Demand from 2020–2024. Arlington, Va.
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Gartee R. (2011). Electronic Health Records + MEDCIN CD: Understanding and Using
Computerizing Medical Records. 2nd Ed. Pearson. USA
Gerda Koch. (2000). Basic allied health statistics and analysis. 2nd Ed. Thomson Delmar
learning. USA.
Gupta, P. (2000). Mathematical Statistics. New Delhi Publisher, India
Gupta, P. (2006). Statistical Methods. New Delhi Publisher, India
J. Jothikumar. (2005). Statistics: Higher secondary-First year. 1st Ed. Tamilnadu
Textbook Corporation. Chennai.
Pietka E et al. (2016). Information Technology in Medicine. 1st Ed. Springer International
Publishing. USA.
Thanki S. (2018). Medical Imaging and Its Security in Telemedicine Applications. 1st Ed.
Springer International Publisher. USA.
15 Worksheet 1.1: The difficulties in patient registration
process
Worksheet 1.1: The importance of digitalizing pharmaceutical data
Instructions: This is a take home exercise that should be done by all students
individually.
Finished work should be collected and handed over to the tutor. Time for collection will
be discussed and agreed in class.
Instructions: Answer the question below
Explain the importance of digitalizing pharmaceutical data in the healthcare industry.
16Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 3: Analysis of Health Data Using Microsoft Excel Formulas and Functions (guide pages 29–53)
Session 3: Creation of Table from Health Data Using
Spreadsheet
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
• Explain Microsoft Excel formula
• Use Microsoft Excel formulas to analyse data in a table
• Explain Microsoft excel function (function wizard)
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers
• Computer and LCD projector
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Content
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives
Presentation/
2 05 minutes Formulas for Microsoft Excel
Demonstration
Presentation/ Analysis of data using Microsoft excel
3 45 minutes
Demonstration formulas
Presentation/
4 45 minutes Microsoft excel functions (Function wizard)
Demonstration
5 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
6 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
7 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
29SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (05 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.
STEP 2: The Formulas for Microsoft Excel (05 minutes)
Microsoft Excel Formulas
• A formula is an expression made up of cell addresses and arithmetic operators.
• Formulas can also be made up of discrete values i.e. =6*3.
• Excel evaluates the formula to a value.
• An example of a formula looks as follows.
=A2 * D2 / 2
WHERE,
• "=" tells Excel that this is a formula, and it should evaluate it.
• "A2" * D2" makes reference to cell addresses A2 and D2 then multiplies the values
found in these cell addresses.
• "/" is the division arithmetic operator
• "2" is a discrete value
30STEP 3: The Analysis of Data Using Microsoft Excel Formulas (50
minutes)
Application of Microsoft Formula in analysis of data in the table
• Use the following data to practice Ms Excel formulas
Table 2: Home supplies budget
S/N ITEM QTY PRICE SUBTOTAL Is it Affordable?
1 Mangoes 9 600
2 Oranges 3 1200
3 Tomatoes 1 2500
4 Cooking Oil 5 6500
5 Tonic Water 13 3900
Table 3: House building project schedule
S/N ITEM START DATE END DATE DURATION
(DAYS)
1 Survey land 04/02/2015 07/02/2015
2 Lay foundation 10/02/2015 15/02/2015
3 Roofing 27/02/2015 03/03/2015
4 Painting 09/03/2015 21/03/2015
Procedures for inserting formulas
• Use home budget to calculate the subtotal.
o Create a new workbook in Excel
o Enter the data shown in the home supplies budget above.
• Write the formula that calculates the subtotal
o Set the focus to cell E4
o Enter the following formula.
=C4*D4
WHERE,
• "C4*D4" uses the arithmetic operator multiplication (*) to multiply the value of the
cell address C4 and D4.
31• The worksheet should look as follows.
• Press enter key
• The following result will appear on the worksheet
• Auto select cell address and apply the same formula to other rows.
32• Mistakes to avoid when working with formulas in Excel
o Remember the rules of Brackets of Division, Multiplication, Addition, and
Subtraction (BODMAS).
▪ This means expressions are brackets are evaluated first.
▪ For arithmetic operators, the division is evaluated first followed by
multiplication then addition and subtraction is the last one to be evaluated.
▪ Using this rule, we can rewrite the above formula as = (A2 * D2) / 2.
▪ This will ensure that A2 and D2 are first evaluated then divided by two.
o Formulas usually work with numeric data
▪ Take advantage of data validation to specify the type of data that should be
accepted by a cell, such as numbers only.
o To work with the correct cell, addresses referenced in the formulas; press F2 on the
keyboard.
▪ This will highlight the cell addresses used in the formula.
33 o When working with many rows use serial numbers for all the rows and have a
record count at the bottom of the sheet.
▪ Compare the serial number count with the record total to ensure formulas are
included to all rows.
The common used excel formulas
• SUM formula: =SUM (C2,C3,C4,C5)
o In excel, SUM formula is used to calculate the total number.
o For instance here we had calculated the total number of computer items sold by
using formula =SUM (C2,C3,C4,C5) at the end we get the total 20, 500, as
shown in next formula.
o In formula, inside bracket we have to mention the column or row number which
we want to add.
Formula =SUM (C2,C3,C4,C5)
Results executed SUM = 20,500
• Average Formula: = Average (C2,C3,C4,C5)
o In excel, the average formula, is used to retrieve the average for any number.
o Like we have calculated the average sales of computer across the country.
o Highlights the formula, i.e., = Average (C2,C3,C4,C5) that we have applied for
our data.
34• SUMIF formula = SUMIF (A2:A7,“Items wanted”, D2:D7)
o The Sum IF gives the total number of any items for selected ranges.
o For instance here we want to calculate only the total sales amount for software
items, to do that we will apply the formula as =SUMIF (A2:A7, “software”,
D2:D7).
o Here A2 and A7 defines the range for software and same way we can find sales
amount for hardware. (A2:A7, “hardware”, D2:D7).
Software
Hardware
35 o The total sale amount of hard-ware and soft-ware in the table are as follows:
• COUNTIF Formula: COUNTIF(D2:D7, “Function”)
o COUNTIF function offers wide application.
o Here we have taken a simple example of COUNTIF function, where our motive is
to find the total number of cells whose value is greater than 3000.
o Apply the formula =COUNTIF(D2:D7,”>3000”).
o The total number of cells that has value greater than 3000.
36• Concatenate Function: =CONCATENATE(C4,Text, D4, Text,…)
o Concatenate function is used in excel to connect different segment or text to
display as a single sentence.
o For example, here we want to display text as ―NewYork has the highest sale of
12000 dollars‖
o For that we will use the formula =CONCATENATE(C4,‖has the highest sale
of‖,D4,dollar‖).
o The formula can execute the following results
37• INT Formula: INT (this number)
o Int formula is used to remove integer from the number like we have demonstrated
over here in below example.
• MAX Formula: =MAX(D2:D7)
o This excel formula will retain the cells that have the highest value in the column.
o For example, here we want to know the highest value for computer items, and it
retains the value 12000.
o We can execute the same formula to get a minimum value
▪ In the formula we have to replace MAX with MIN.
o The highest value in the column
38• Factorial Formula= FACT(number)
o Factorial formula will return the factorial of the number.
o To know the factorial number for 3, we use this formula.
o We can use this formula to know the probability for any number
o Here we will have factor 3=3x2x1.
3!
Results of 3!= 6
• VLookup Formula = VLookup (value, range, and get me value in the column, is
my list sorted)
o VLookup formula is used when we know the detail of any object or person and,
retain other formation based on that detail.
39 o For example here we have an example of the keyboard, where we know the retail
price of the keyboard but we don’t know how much total sale it made in
California by selling keyboard.
o To know that we will use =VLookup(20,D2:D7,2,False).
o This formula will give us the total sale amount based on the retail price.
o While applying this formula we have to ensure that whatever we are placing as
ref, must be unique, for example looking for any particular employee with its ID
number it should not be allotted to others otherwise it will show an error.
D7 and not E7
o When formula is executed, the total sale amount shown is 2500
• IF function formula: IF (E2>2000, correct/Incorrect)
o Here we have used IF function
40 o This function is used when we want to refer whether the following condition met
is correct or incorrect.
o Here we have used ―good‖ as any sales made greater than 2000 should be
remarked as good.
o Likewise, we can set this as ―bad‖, ―correct‖ or ―incorrect‖.
o Below table shows when we applied our formula it highlighted cell as ―good‖.
https://career.guru99.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/if_function_formula_1.png
STEP 4: The Microsoft Excel Functions (Function Wizard) (45 minutes)
Ms Excel Function (Function Wizard)
• A function is a predefined formula.
• Functions allow to use descriptive names and automatically apply formulas for data
analysis.
• Examples of functions include:
o SUM for summation of a range of numbers
41 o AVERAGE for calculating the average of a given range of numbers
o COUNT for counting the number of items in a given range
The importance of functions
• Functions increase user productivity when working with excel.
o Let's say we would like to get the grand total for the above home supplies budget.
o To make it simpler, we can use a formula to get the grand total.
o Using a formula, we would have to reference the cells E4 through to E8 one by
one.
o We would have to use the following formula.
= E4 + E5 + E6 + E7 + E8
o With a function, we would write the above formula as:
=SUM (E4:E8)
o As we can see from the above function used to get the sum of a range of cells, it is
much more efficient to use a function to get the sum than using the formula which
will have to reference a lot of cells.
Common functions
S/N FUNCTION CATEGORY DESCRIPTION USAGE
01 SUM Math & Trig Adds all the values in =SUM(E4:E8)
a range of cells
02 MIN Statistical Finds the minimum =MIN(E4:E8)
value in a range of
cells
03 MAX Statistical Finds the maximum =MAX(E4:E8)
value in a range of
cells
4204 AVERAGE Statistical Calculates the average =AVERAGE(E4:E8)
value in a range of
cells
05 COUNT Statistical Counts the number of =COUNTS(E4:E8)
cells in a range of
cells
06 LEN Text Returns the number of =LEN(B7)
characters in a string
text
07 SUMIF Math & Trig Adds all the values in =SUMIF(D4:D8,">=
a range of cells that 1000",C4:C8)
meet a specified
criteria
08 AVERAGEIF Statistical Calculates the average =AVERAGEIF(F4:F
value in a range of 8,"Yes",E4:E8)
cells that meet the
specified criteria
09 DAYS Date & Time Returns the number of =DAYS(D4,C4)
days between two
dates
10 NOW Date & Time Returns the current =NOW()
system date and time
Numeric functions
S/N FUNCTION CATEGORY DESCRIPTION USAGE
431 ISNUMBER Information Returns true if the =ISNUMBER(A3)
supplied value is numeric
and false if it is not
numeric
2 RAND Math & Trig Generates a random =RAND()
number between 0 and 1
3 ROUND Math & Trig Rounds off a decimal =ROUND(3.14455,2)
value to the specified
number of decimal points
4 MEDIAN Statistical Returns the number in the =MEDIAN(3,4,5,2,5)
middle of the set of given
numbers
5 PI Math & Trig Returns the value if Pi =PI()
6 POWER Math & Trig Returns the result of a =POWER(2,4)
number raised to a power
7 MOD Math & Trig Returns the remainder =MOD(10,3)
when you divide two
numbers
8 ROMAN Math & Trig Converts a number to =ROMAN(1984)
roman numerals
Date Time Functions
S/N FUNCTION CATEGORY DESCRIPTION USAGE
441 DATE Date & Time Returns the number that =DATE(2015,2,4)
represents the date in
excel code
2 DAYS Date & Time Find the number of days =DAYS(D6,C6)
between two dates
3 MONTH Date & Time Returns the month from =MONTH("4/2/2015")
a date value
4 MINUTE Date & Time Returns the minutes =MINUTE("12:31")
from a time value
5 YEAR Date & Time Returns the year from a =YEAR("04/02/2015")
date value
VLOOKUP function
• The VLOOKUP function is used to perform a vertical look up in the left most column
and return a value in the same row from a column that you specify.
• The home supplies budget has a serial number column that uniquely identifies each
item in the budget.
• Suppose we have the item serial number, and we would like to know the item
description, we can use the VLOOKUP function.
• Here is how the VLOOKUP function would be used.
45 =VLOOKUP (C12, A4:B8, 2, FALSE)
WHERE,
• "=VLOOKUP" calls the vertical lookup function
• "C12" specifies the value to be looked up in the left most column
• "A4:B8" specifies the table array with the data
• "2" specifies the column number with the row value to be returned by the
VLOOKUP function
• "FALSE," tells the VLOOKUP function that we are looking for an exact match of
the supplied look up value
46Computation of Mean using Excel functions
• First, open a new spreadsheet.
• Click on a blank cell where you will paste a function to calculate the mean, median or
mode.
• Using the series fill function, enter the series of integer values 1 to 10 in cells A6 to
A15.
• Next click on the function wizard button.
• From the drop down list Or select a category,
select Statistical.
• Click on Average to highlight it, then on OK.
• Using the mouse, highlight the cells containing the
data range just entered or you can select data by
first clicking the collapse icons.
47 These are the collapse icons and are used in
selecting ranges in many Excel dialogues.
Excel previews the result of applying the function
here.
• Click OK.
• The value of the mean will now appear in the blank cell you selected in step 2.
Computation of Median and Mode in the Excel functions
• To calculate the median or mode, follow the same procedure but highlight MEDIAN
or MODE in step 4.
• Alternately you can enter the formulae directly into spreadsheet cells as shown below.
• All the statistical functions are accessed in the same way and have a similar interface.
Using formulae in cells to calculate descriptive statistical measures in Excel
Mode
• The syntax for this computation is:
=Mode (Range)
Median
• The syntax for this computation is:
=Median (Range)
Mean
• There is a built in Excel function that returns the mean as its value
= Average (Range)
Using formulae in cells to calculate Measures of Dispersion in the excel
Range
• The range of a sample is the largest score minus the smallest score.
• This can be calculated using the Excel Formula
= (Max(A1:A10)-(Min(A1:A10)
Variance
• The variance in a population is calculated as follows.
• We won’t build this equation ourselves in Excel during this session.
48• The population variance:
x − x
2
S
2
N
• The sample variance:
x − x
2
S
2
N −1
• This formula depends upon first calculating X and N which we have already seen
above.
• The Excel function to calculate the variance for a population is:
= varp(range)
• The Excel function for calculating a sample is:
= var(range)
• You can access both from the function wizard or use them by typing formulae in
cells.
Standard Deviation Excel functions
• The Standard Deviation is the square root of the deviance.
• You can calculate it with the formula:
=sqrt(var(range))
• Or you can calculate it by using the appropriate functions:
= stdev(range) or stdevp(range)
Computation of Frequency in Excel
• The Excel useful statistical function is Frequency.
• Given a set a data and a set of intervals, Frequency counts how many of the values in
the data occur within each interval.
• The data is called a data array and the interval set is called a bins array.
• The format for the FREQUENCY function is:
o FREQUENCY(DATA,BINS)
▪ FREQUENCY is an array
function.
49 ▪ This means that the function returns a set of values rather than just one value.
▪ To enter an array function, the range that the array is to occupy must first be
selected and the function must be entered by pressing Shift+Ctrl+Enter
instead of just Enter or using the mouse.
• The following worksheet contains the examination results for 14 students.
• The numbers in the column headed Score Below is the bins array.
• Before keying in the function, you must select the range of the array for the result.
• In this case it will be F8:F17.
• With this range selected, the following function is keyed into the Formula bar:
=FREQUENCY(C4:C17,E8:E17)
• Press Shift+Ctrl+Enter.
• The array is now filled with data.
• This data shows that no student scored below 30, 1 student scored between 30 and 39,
3 between 40 and 49, 1 between 50 and 59, 3 between 60 and 69, 1 between 70 and
79, 3 between 80 and 89, and 2 scored between 90 and 100.
• If any of the results are changed, the data in the No. In Range column will be
updated automatically.
STEP 5: Key Points (05 minutes)
• Excel allows manipulating the data using formulas and functions.
• Functions are generally more productive compared to writing formulas.
• Functions are also more accurate compared to formulas because the margin of making
mistakes is very minimal.
50STEP 6: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What order of operations used to evaluate formulas in Excel?
• What are the useful functions in Excel?
• What is the pivot table?
STEP 7: Assignmen (5 minutes)
Activity: Group assignment
ACTIVITY:
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Explain the IF functions as applied in Microsoft Excel.
• Explain the benefit of using formula in Excel sheet.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
51References
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Gartee R. (2011). Electronic Health Records + MEDCIN CD: Understanding and Using
Computerizing Medical Records. 2nd Ed. Pearson. USA
Gerda Koch. (2000). Basic allied health statistics and analysis. 2nd Ed. Thomson Delmar
learning. USA.
Gupta, P. (2000). Mathematical Statistics. New Delhi Publisher, India
Gupta, P. (2006). Statistical Methods. New Delhi Publisher, India
J. Jothikumar. (2005). Statistics: Higher secondary-First year. 1st Ed. Tamilnadu
Textbook Corporation. Chennai.
Pietka E et al. (2016). Information Technology in Medicine. 1st Ed. Springer International
Publishing. USA.
Held B, Richrdson T, Moriaty B. (2016). Microsoft Excel Functions and Formulas.
Mercury Learning & Information.
Held B. (2010). Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas. Wordware Publishing, Inc.
LeCorps R. (2002). Microsoft Excel Fundamentals: A Practical Workbook for Small
Business. RGL Learning & Publishing.
Shekhar V. V. (2000). Microsoft Excel 2000. Unistar Books Publishers.
52 Worksheet 3.1: The measures of central tendency and
dispersion Excel formula and functions
Worksheet 1.1: The importance of digitalizing pharmaceutical data
Instructions: This is a take home exercise that should be done by all students
individually.
Finished work should be collected in hardcopy and softcopy format and handed over to
the tutor. Time for collection will be discussed and agreed in class.
Instructions: Answer the question below
Consumable and non-consumable medical items at Kasulu district hospital 2008 annual
report.
CONSUMABLE MEDICAL ITEMS
2178 2716 1652 3182 2178 1672 2101 2716 1761 2716 1007 2716
NON-CONSUMABLE MEDICAL ITEMS
2012 1613 1201 2010 978 1613 871 911 1001 1613 1512 1613
REQUIRED:
A. Use formula to compute the following in the spreadsheet:
• Mode for non-consumable
• Median for consumable
• Standard deviation for non-consumable
• Mean for consumable
B. Use Excel functions to compute the following:
• Mode for non-consumable
• Median for consumable
• Standard deviation for non-consumable
• Mean for consumable
53Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 4: Creation of Chart from Health Data Using Spreadsheet (guide pages 54–65)
Session 4: Creation of Chart from Health Data Using
Spreadsheet
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
• Define a chart as applied in Ms Excel
• Explain types of Ms Excel charts
• Create a chart using Ms Excel principles
• Format data using condition formatting
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard marker
• Computer and LCD projector
• Worksheet 3.1: The Microsoft Excel charts
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Content
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives
2 05 minutes Presentation Definition of chart as applied in Ms excel
Presentation/
3 15 minutes Types of Microsoft Excel charts
Demonstration
Presentation/ Procedures of creating a chart using
4 40 minutes
Demonstration Microsoft Excel
Presentation/ Procedures of using condition formatting in
5 40 minutes
Demonstration Microsoft Excel
6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
8 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
54SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.
STEP 2: The Definition of Chart as applied in Microsoft Excel (5
minutes)
Chart
• A chart is a visual representative of data in both columns and rows.
• Charts are usually used to analyse trends and patterns in data sets.
• For example, the district hospital pharmacist have been recorded the malaria drugs
inventory figures in Excel for the past three years; using charts, the pharmacist can
easily tell which year had the most consumption of Malaria drugs and which year had
the least.
• Charts are used to compare set targets against actual achievements.
• Use the following data for chart practice.
Table 4: Sales of Computer Appliances at AB Computer Shop
Item 2012 2013 2014 2015
Desktop Computer 20 12 13 12
Laptops 34 45 40 39
Monitors 12 10 17 15
Printers 78 13 90 14
STEP 3: The Types of Microsoft Excel Charts (15 minutes)
Types of charts
• Different scenarios require different types of charts.
• Excel provides a number of chart types
• The type of chart depends on the type of data that used during chart design.
• To help simplify things for the users, Excel has an option that analyses data and
makes a recommendation of the chart type used.
55The following table shows some of the most commonly used charts
S/N CHART WHEN EXAMPLE
TYPE SHOULD
USE IT?
1 Pie When user
Chart want to
quantify
items and
show them
as
percentages.
2 Bar When user
Chart want to
compare
values
across a few
categories.
The values
run
horizontally
3 Colum When user
chart want to
compare
values
across a few
categories.
The values
run
vertically
564 Line When user
chart want to
visualize
trends over
a period of
time i.e.
months,
days, years,
etc.
5 Combo When user
Chart want to
highlight
different
types of
information
The importance of charts
• It allows visualizing data graphically.
• It's easier to analyse trends and patterns in the charts
• Easy to interpret compared to data in cells
STEP 4: The Procedures of Creating a Chart Using Microsoft Excel (40
minutes)
Procedures for creating charts in Excel
• Open Excel
• Enter the data from the sample data table above (Table 4)
• The workbook should now look as follows
57• To get the desired chart the user should follow the following steps
• Select the data you want to represent in graph
• Click on INSERT tab from the ribbon
• Click on the Column chart drop down button
• Select the chart type you want
• The user can able to see the following chart
58• When you select the chart, the ribbon activates the following tabs:
• Try to apply the different chart styles, and other options presented in your chart.
STEP 5: The Procedures of Using Conditional Format in Microsoft
Excel (40 minutes)
Conditional Formatting
• Conditional formatting refers to formatting that is only applied when the specified
condition is true.
• Let's say we want to easily fetch the sales figures greater than 30; we can use
conditional formatting to highlight all the sales figures that are greater than 30.
59Procedures for conditional Formatting
• Highlight all the sales figures as shown below
• Click on Conditional Formatting drop-down menu on the HOME tab
• The user get the following dialogue window when click on ―Greater Than‖
60• The final result should look as follows
Procedures for removing conditional formatting
• Click on conditional formatting button
• Select clear rules
• Select clear rules from the entire sheet
STEP 6: Key Points (5 minutes)
• Charts are a powerful way of graphically visualizing of statistical data.
• Excel has many types of charts that we can use depending on user needs.
• Conditional formatting is also another power formatting feature of Excel that helps us
easily see the data that meets a specified condition
STEP 7: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What Ms Excel chart?
• What is a conditional formatting?
61STEP 8: Assignment (5 minutes)
Activity: Group assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Explain the three report formats that are available in Microsoft Excel.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
62References
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Gartee R. (2011). Electronic Health Records + MEDCIN CD: Understanding and Using
Computerizing Medical Records. 2nd Ed. Pearson. USA
Gupta, P. (2000). Mathematical Statistics. New Delhi Publisher, India
Gupta, P. (2006). Statistical Methods. New Delhi Publisher, India
J. Jothikumar. (2005). Statistics: Higher secondary-First year. 1st Ed. Tamilnadu
Textbook Corporation. Chennai.
Held B, Richrdson T, Moriaty B. (2016). Microsoft Excel Functions and Formulas.
Mercury Learning & Information.
Held B. (2010). Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas. Wordware Publishing, Inc.
LeCorps R. (2002). Microsoft Excel Fundamentals: A Practical Workbook for Small
Business. RGL Learning & Publishing.
Shekhar V. V. (2000). Microsoft Excel 2000. Unistar Books Publishers.
63 Worksheet 3.1: The Microsoft Excel charts
Worksheet 4.1: The utilization of Ms Excel package in creating a chart
Instructions: This is a take home exercise that should be done by all students
individually.
Finished work should be collected in hardcopy and softcopy format and handed over to
the tutor. Time for collection will be discussed and agreed in class.
Attempt to this Activity
The Income and Expenditure Report
Required:
• Making two graphs from this information
Graph 1: Pie Chart
• This graph will show the total amount of money spent on each category over a six
month period.
• To do this, you must total the amount spent on each item in column I.
• Do not include the average in your equation.
64• Next, highlight the expenses (house payment, gasoline, etc).
• Hold down the CTRL key and highlight your new totals.
• Create a pie chart.
• Go to data labels and show the percentages.
• Cut and paste all the information you need and the graph to a new sheet.
Graph 2: Bar Chart
• This will be a bar chart for income and expenses.
• Below your total column, type Income in A12. Enter the income for each month. They
are as follows:
January: 2,000
February: 2,100
March: 2,000
April: 1,900
May: 2,500
June: 2,200
• Create a bar chart that looks like the one below.
• Include the chart you make and the date for the chart on the page you print.
• This page should include the two data sets and the two charts.
• Print preview to make sure it all prints on one page.
Income & Expenses
June
May
April
Income
March Expenses
February
January
$- $500.00 $1,000.00 $1,500.00 $2,000.00 $2,500.00
65Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 5: Creation of Histogram from Health Data Using Spreadsheet (guide pages 66–74)
Session 5: Creation of Histogram from Health Data
Using Spreadsheet
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
• Define Histogram
• Explain Histogram data used in Ms Excel
• Create Histogram using Ms Excel
Resources Needed
• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers
• Computer and LCD projector
• Worksheet 3.1: The Microsoft Excel histogram
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Content
1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives
Presentation/
2 10 minutes Definition of Histogram
Buzzing
3 30 minutes Presentation Histogram Data Used in Ms Excel
Presentation/
4 60 minutes Creation of Histogram Using Ms Excel
Demonstration
5 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
6 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
7 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
66SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.
STEP 2: Definition of Histogram (10 minutes)
Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes)
ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 minutes:
• What is histogram?
ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not mentioned
WRITE their response on the flip chart/board
CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below
• A histogram is a column chart that shows frequency data.
• A histogram is "a representation of a frequency distribution by means of rectangles
whose widths represent class intervals and whose areas are proportional to the
corresponding frequencies."
STEP 3: The Histogram Data Used in Microsoft Excel (30 minutes)
• To create a histogram in Excel, the designer should provide two types of data:
o The data that required to analyze
o The bin numbers that represent the intervals by which it measures the frequency.
• The user must organize the data in two columns on the worksheet.
o These columns must contain the following data:
▪ Input data: This is the data that used to analyze by using the Histogram tool.
▪ Bin numbers: These numbers represent the intervals that the Histogram tool is
used for measuring the input data in the data analysis.
• When user uses the Histogram tool, Excel counts the number of data points in each
data bin.
67• A data point is included in a particular bin if the number is greater than the lowest
bound and equal to or less than the greatest bound for the data bin.
• If the user omits the bin range, Excel creates a set of evenly distributed bins between
the minimum and maximum values of the input data.
• The output of the histogram analysis is displayed on a new worksheet or in a new
workbook and shows a histogram table and a column chart that reflects the data in the
histogram table.
STEP 4: The Procedures for Creating Histogram in Microsoft Excel (60
minutes)
Creating Histogram using Ms Excel
• First, enter the bin numbers (upper levels) in the range C3:C7.
• On the Data tab, in the Analysis group, click Data Analysis.
NOTE: If you can't find the Data Analysis button; click here to load the Analysis
ToolPak add-in.
68• Select Histogram and click OK.
• Select the range A2:A19.
• Click in the Bin Range box and select the range C3:C7.
• Click the Output Range option button, click in the Output Range box and select cell
F3.
• Check Chart Output.
• Click OK.
69• Click the legend on the right side and press Delete.
• Properly label your bins.
• To remove the space between the bars, right click a bar, click Format Data Series and
change the Gap Width to 0%.
• To add borders, right click a bar, click Format Data Series, click the Fill & Line icon,
click Border and select a colour.
• Result:
70STEP 5: Key Points (5 minutes)
• The omission of bin range in the Ms Excel creates a set of evenly distributed bins
between the minimum and maximum values of the input data that results to
histogram.
• The output of the histogram analysis is displayed on a new worksheet or in a new
workbook and shows a histogram table and a column chart that reflects the data in the
histogram table
STEP 6: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What is histogram?
• What is a bin in Excel?
• What is frequency distribution in Excel?
STEP 7: Assignment (5 minutes)
Activity: Group assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Explain the merits and demerits of using Histogram in healthcare data
presentation.
• Explain the different between Ms Excel 2013 and 2016 in creation of
Histogram.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
71References
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Gartee R. (2011). Electronic Health Records + MEDCIN CD: Understanding and Using
Computerizing Medical Records. 2nd Ed. Pearson. USA
Gerda Koch. (2000). Basic allied health statistics and analysis. 2nd Ed. Thomson Delmar
learning. USA.
Gupta, P. (2000). Mathematical Statistics. New Delhi Publisher, India
Gupta, P. (2006). Statistical Methods. New Delhi Publisher, India
J. Jothikumar. (2005). Statistics: Higher secondary-First year. 1st Ed. Tamilnadu
Textbook Corporation. Chennai.
Thanki S. (2018). Medical Imaging and Its Security in Telemedicine Applications. 1st
Ed. Springer International Publisher. USA.
Held B, Richrdson T, Moriaty B. (2016). Microsoft Excel Functions and Formulas.
Mercury Learning & Information.
Held B. (2010). Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas. Wordware Publishing, Inc.
LeCorps R. (2002). Microsoft Excel Fundamentals: A Practical Workbook for Small
Business. RGL Learning & Publishing.
Shekhar V. V. (2000). Microsoft Excel 2000. Unistar Books Publishers.
72 Worksheet 3.1: The Microsoft Excel histogram
Worksheet 4.1: The utilization of Ms Excel package in creating a histogram
Instructions: This is a take home exercise that should be done by all students
individually.
Finished work should be collected in hardcopy and softcopy format and handed over to
the tutor. Time for collection will be discussed and agreed in class.
Instructions: Answer the question below
TASK 1
Data: 1,2,2,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,6
Use these data to create the following Histogram:
73TASK 2
Consider the set {3, 11, 12, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 36, 37, 45, 49} and use Shodor
histogram activity to create the following:
Data Range Frequency
0-10 1
10-20 3
20-30 6
30-40 4
40-50 2
Then, create the following:
74Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 8: Utilization of Computer Packages in Ordering, Invoicing, Dispensing, Selling and Inventory Management (guide pages 100–107)
Session 8: Utilization of Computer Packages in
Ordering, Invoicing, Dispensing, Selling and Inventory
Management
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• List common inventory management applications
• Demonstrate procedures for electronic ordering
• Demonstrate procedures for electronic invoicing
• Demonstrate procedures for electronic dispensing
• Demonstrate procedures for electronic selling
• Carry out inventory management functions using computer (PRACTICAL)
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board marker
• Computer and LCD projector
100SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation, Introduction of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Brainstorm Definition of an Electronic Inventory
2 10 minutes
Presentation Management Software/Application
List Common Inventory Management
3 30 minutes Presentation
Applications
Demonstrate Procedures for Electronic
4 30 minutes Presentation
Ordering and Invoicing
Presentation
Demonstrate Procedures for Electronic
5 30 minutes (Group
Dispensing and Selling
Discussion)
6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
8 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
101SESSION CONTENTS
STEP 1: Introduction of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)
READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks
ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.
STEP 2: Definition of an Electronic Inventory Management
Software/Application (5minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (05 minutes)
ASK student ―what is Electronic Inventory Management?‖
ALLOW few students to respond.
WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
• Electronic Inventory Management Software/Application
o It is software installed on the computer systems that enables a firm (in this case a
pharmacy) to keep a check on the inventory levels by performing the automatic
counting of inventories, recording withdrawals and revising the stock balance.
STEP 3: List Common Inventory Management Applications (10 minutes)
• What are examples of inventory management software
o Electronic Logistic Management Information System (eLMIS)
Is a revolutionary and cost-effective system of health data management
that ensures greater commodity security and better health outcomes for
people in a given locality like say Tanzania.
o District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2)
is a free and open source health management data platform used by
multiple organizations, and governments worldwide. Since DHIS2's
release in 2006, NGOs and national governments in 60 countries have
deployed DHIS2 for health-related projects, including patient health
monitoring, improving disease surveillance and pinpointing outbreaks, and
speeding up health data access.
102o Zoho Inventory
Popular inventory management solution for small and large companies, used to
automate their order and inventory management, and to keep track of delivery in
order to make smarter business decisions. It also includes a powerful analytic and
reporting kit, and out-of-the-box features such as inventory replenishment for
avoiding stock-outs.
o Cin7
A complete, automated point-of-sales package and inventory management suite
created to cater to the needs different business sizes and industries. Completely
cloud-based, this platform offers top-of-the-line features that let you sell and
distribute your products more quickly and efficiently.
o TradeGecko
A top-listed inventory specialists’ choice for cloud based and automated delivery
of asset management services. Ideal for multi-channel and multiregional
wholesalers and distributors who find it handy to manage sales, supply chains,
and customer relationships from a single location.
o Brightpearl
Another recommended multi-channel retail management system that is a solid
TradeGecko alternative and helps businesses handle orders, inventory, customer
data, accounting and reporting. It offers an advanced sales management kit, and
integrates with all popular marketplaces and payment gateways.
o SellerCloud
An eCommerce and inventory management solution used to manage the full
scope of multi-channel selling. From inventory and warehouse management,
publishing listing to marketplaces, to order processing and shipping, as well as
accounting integration, this Zoho Inventory alternative does all the work needed.
o Logiwa
A cloud-based warehouse management software that caters specifically to small
and medium-sized businesses in the retail and e-commerce industries, giving them
a user-friendly platform that comes with all the core capabilities and features to
address their complex needs and requirements.
103STEP 4: Demonstrate Procedures for Electronic Ordering and
Invoicing (30minutes)
Electronic Ordering Captured from eLMIS
• The first step is to login
• Enter role of Buyer supply chain planner
o Click order management menu , from the order management menu click create
order
o Click inside the ship to my site box and type the first few characters of your site.
The system will automatically match the ship to sites, selected and list of that site
will appear in the box below. Then select your site from the list.
o Using the procedure described in step2, select vendor, ship from, vendor site
o Using the date button and the time button, select the req. delivery date and
req.ship date
• Add lines
o Click adds line to add lines to the purchase order.
o Chose product group
104 o Click on product group button, select product group and click search. Select your
product then click ok.
o Click save option or submit option.
o Click on approve for order and for confirmation order will go to a new status.
Electronic Invoicing
• e-Invoicing
o This is an act of electronically exchanging of the invoice document between
supplier and a buyer in an integrated electronic format.
• Allowed formats of an e-Invoice
o Structured invoice data issued in Electronic Data Interchange (EDL) or XML
formats
o Structured Invoice data Issued using standard Internet based web forms
Note: true definition of an electronic invoice is that it should contain data from the
supplier in a format that can be entered (integrated) into the buyers Account Payable (AP)
system without requiring any data input from buyers AP administrator.
STEP 5: Demonstrate Procedures for Electronic Dispensing and Selling
(30minutes)
• Electronic Dispensing
o A good example is that of an Electronic Dispensing Tool (EDL) for which is a
software program that helps pharmacy staff efficiently manage both patients and
their antiretroviral.
o it contains fields in which you fill relevant data that is used to monitor patient
adherence, trace dispensing history, show therapy regimen and status changes also
appointment keeping, inventory management, and early indicators of HIV
medicine resistance to antiretroviral.
o After a patient is identified it takes less time to attend to them.
• Electronic Selling
o Also referred to as e-commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services
over an electronic network, primarily the internet.
o Types of transactions that occur
▪ Business to business (B2B)
▪ Consumer to consumer (C2C)
▪ Business to Consumer (B2C)
▪ Consumer to Business (C2B)
105STEP 6: Key Points (5 minutes)
• Computer application software’s are employed to conduct various activities that are
carried out in a pharmaceutical environment.
• Activities like ordering, selling, sending invoice, dispensing as well as making
payments can be achieved through the use of search software.
• Examples of software’s/applications that can be used in ordering, selling, sending
invoice and dispensing are (e-LMIS, Logiwa, Seller Cloud and TradeGecko.
STEP 7: Evaluation (5 minutes)
• What is Electronic ordering/selling/dispensing/invoicing?
• What are the examples for applications used in inventory management?
• What are the benefits for an Electronic Dispensing Tool?
• What are the legit format types of an electronic Invoice?
STEP 8: Take Home Assignment (5 minutes)
Activity: Group assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Explain Electronic Inventory Management.
• Explain on DHIS2 and eLMIS as software applications used in inventory
management.
• What is electronic ordering, selling and dispensing?
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these questions for not
less than 5 minutes.
SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
106References
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Strategy for
Development and Implementation of an Integrated Logistics System for Essential
Health Commodities: Government printers, Dar es Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
What is Inventory Management Software? Analysis of Features, Types, Benefits and
Pricing. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2018, from
https://financesonline.com/inventory-management-software-analysis-features-types-
benefits-pricing/
GNU. (2016). DHIS 2 User Manual. DHIS2 Documentation Team. Free Software
Foundation. Available at: www.gnu.org . accessed : 11.09.2018
MOHCDGEC. (2016). National Guideline for Health Data Quality Assessment. Dar es
salaam. Tanzania
WHO. (2008). Health Information System. Geneva. Available at:
www.healthmetricsnetwork.org . Accessed: 11.09.2008
107Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 10: Utilization of HMIS (MTUHA) Database in Capturing and Managing Pharmaceutical Data (guide pages 115–131)
Session 10: Utilization of HMIS (MTUHA) Database in
Capturing and Managing Pharmaceutical Data
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Define HMIS/MTUHA Database
• List commonly used HMIS/MTUHA tools
• Capture and process data using (HMIS) MTUHA database software (PRACTICAL)-
DHIS 2 Software
• Generate reports from HMIS/MTUHA database (PRACTICAL)- DHIS 2 Software
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board markers
• Online DHIS2
• HMIS Registers
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation Presentation of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Brainstorm
2 05 minutes Definition of HMIS (MTUHA)
Presentation
3 15 minutes Presentation HMIS (MTUHA) Tools
Capture and process data using HMIS
4 45 minutes Presentation
(MTUHA) database software
Presentation Generation of report from HMIS (MTUHA)
5
35 minutes Group Discussion database software
6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
115 7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
8 05 minutes Presentation Assignment
SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5
minutes)
READ the Learning Tasks to students
ASK students if they have any question before proceeding
STEP 2: Definitions of HMIS/MTUHA (5 Minutes)
Activity: Brainstorm (02 minutes)
ASK student what is ―HMIS‖ and ―MTUHA‖?
ALLOW few students to respond.
WRITE their responses on the board/flip chart.
SUMMARISE using the content below.
• HMIS Database is a system designed to collect facility based health and health related
data, compile, store and retrieve for data analysis to produce report which in turn
inform service providers, health managers, decision markers/policy makers and the
public to make informed decision on health planning, monitoring and evaluation and
provision of services at all levels of health care delivery.
• HMIS in Swahili is called MTUHA which stands for ―Mfumo wa Taarifa za
Uendeshaji wa Huduma za Afya‖.
STEP 3: The HMIS/MTUHA Tools (15 Minutes)
• HMIS uses three main tools in collection, analysis, storage, management, and
reporting of data:
o Books/registers
o Tally sheet forms
116 o Monthly report forms
• HMIS books are subdivided into five (5) main groups:
o HMIS Guideline
o Data Collection Books
o Tally Sheet Forms
o Monthly Report Forms
o Annual Report Book
• HMIS/MTUHA registers/ books:
o Book 1: HMIS Guidelines
o Book 2: Health Facility information Book
o Book 3: Community book
o Book 4: Ledger book
o Book 5: Out-patient register
o Book 6: Antenatal care register
o Book 7: Child register
o Book 8: Family planning register
o Book 9: Diarrhoea treatment corner
o Book 10: Facility annual Report book
o Book 11: Dental and oral health register
o Book 12: Labour & Delivery book
o Book 13: Postnatal Register
o Book 14: In-patient Department Register
o Book 15: Human Resource Register
o Book 16: Eye Register
• HMIS Guideline
o This is Book No. 1. It is used as an instruction manual and reference to other
books/registers, i.e., Books No. 2–16.
o Each facility should have at least one copy.
o The HMIS Programme will ascertain that each division in each health service
delivery facility obtains at least one copy.
• Data collection books/registers
o These books are used to collect data on different aspects of health (Books No. 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16).
o New books and registers have been added to this list.
▪ They include the malaria laboratory investigations register, dispensing register,
monthly tracer medicine register and death notification form/register.
117• HMIS/MTUHA Departmental registers used to collect data at hospital level:
o Laboratory register
o Physiotherapy register
o Mortuary register
• Currently HMIS/MTUHA has added other registers which are yet to be numbered,
these are:
o Malaria laboratory investigation register
o Dispensing register
o Monthly Tracer medicine register
o Death notification form/register
• Tally sheet forms
o These forms are used to track data for analysis.
o This is then used in report writing.
o Each HMIS register/book should have a tally sheet which will be used jointly
with some register/book for collecting data
• Monthly report forms
o The HMIS uses monthly report forms to collect data each month.
o These forms are in duplicate: one copy is sent to the district while the other is
kept at the health facility
• Annual report book
o The HMIS annual book is used to summarize data from the Facility health
information register (book 2) and community register (book 3)
STEP 4: Capture and Process Data Using HMIS (MTUHA)
Database Software (45 minutes)
DHIS 2 Software
• DHIS2 provides a powerful set of tools for data collection, validation, reporting and
analysis, but the contents of the database.
o For example:-
▪ What to collect,
▪ Who should collect it
▪ On what format; it depends on the context of use
• The Tanzania HMIS/MTUHA database software is called DHIS 2
• DHIS 2 is platform independent
118• DHIS 2 can run on both on-line (with the internet) and offline (without the internet)
modes.
• Input: DHIS provides user-friendly interface to enter data. Data entry forms mimic
the paper tools.
• Processes: DHIS automatically computes sums, indicators and checks validity of the
data.
• Output: Provide different tools for reporting – both for routine reports and analysis,
also user can create and save their reports
Accessing DHIS 2 Software for data entry process
• Each user need the following to access DHIS2
o Device e.g. laptop
o Internet access
o Internet browser e.g. Google chrome, Firefox
o URL: https://dhis.moh.go.tz/
o DHIS2 account (username and password)
Figure 11: Components of DHIS 2 Software
DHIS 2 User Account
• Required details
o Full name
o Active email address
o Phone (optional)
o Duty Post
Types of DHIS 2 Applications Menus
• Service Applications: They are used to collect data, validate, analyse and report
processed information
• Maintenance Applications: They're used for system maintenance such as revision of
paper tools, indicators, changes in organization units, improving system performance
and other operations
Applications Navigation Menu
• All Apps are in one Menu
119 Figure 12: Application Navigation Menu
Navigations
• There are two types of Application Menu
Figure 13: Application Menu
Left vertical menu Middle Menu
Vertical programs integrated into DHIS 2
• National Malaria Control Program (NMCP)
• National TB and Leprosy Control Program (NTLP)
• National AIDS Control Program (NACP)
• Administration & HR Management Department
National TB and Leprosy Control Program (NTLP) forms integrated into DHIS 2
120• Quarterly Summary Forms
o LEP 07 Case Notification Report
o LEP 09 Results of Treatment
o TB 07 Case Notification Report
o TB 09 Results of Treatment
• Annual Summary Forms
o LEP 10 Report on Presentation of Disabilities
National AIDS Control Program (NACP) forms integrated into DHIS 2
• Quarterly Summary Forms
o Cohort Reporting Form
o HIV Care-ART Reporting Form
• Monthly Summary Forms
o HIV Care and Treatment (HCT)
o Home Based Care (HUWANYU)
o Male Circumcision Services
o Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) forms integrated into DHIS 2
• Monthly Summary Forms
o National Malaria Control Program Form 001
▪ Laboratory
▪ Logistics Data for Malaria Commodities
o OPD & IPD forms
▪ Malaria Blood slide Positive
▪ Malaria mRDT Positive
▪ Clinical (No Tests)
▪ In pregnancy
o ANC forms
▪ Malaria Treated Net
▪ Malaria positive
▪ IPT1 and IPT2
Administration and Human Resources Management Department forms integrated
into DHIS 2
• Human Resources Register
DHIS 2 Applications
• Aggregate Data Entry
• Events Capture Data Entry
121• Reports
• Data Visualizer
• GIS / Maps
• Pivot Tables
• Messaging & Interpretation
• Administrative Features
o Organization unit management
o Data element & Indicator Management
o Dataset Management
o Users and Roles Management
o Data administration
o Settings
Figure 14: DHIS 2 Apps
122Figure 15: Logging Out
DHIS 2 Organization units: Data Access and Reporting
• First level (Highest): MoHSW
o Data access at the central level
o Central point for DHIS2 users and settings administration
o Data reporting for the whole country
• Second level: Regions
o Data access at regional level
o Data reporting for the whole region
• Third level: Councils/Districts
o Data entry point
o Data access
o Data report
• Fourth level: Facilities
o Data entry point
o Data report
123Figure 16: Ministry of Health Organization Units
Organization units DHIS 2 Data Access
MoHSW
Region 1 Region 2
Council 1 Council 2 Council 3
Dispensary
Facility 1 Hospital1 Facility 2
1
Data elements
• Explains what we collect and analyse
o For example, "Malaria new cases", "Total Population", "1st ANC visits",
"Measles doses given―; Idadi ya Wajawazito Waliotegemewa wa umri chini ya
miaka 20 (ANC form)
• Sometimes referred to as Indicators in other contexts
o In DHIS 2 data elements and indicators are not the same
• It describes the raw data, e.g. the counts and not the coverage
• It can be further disaggregated using categories, e.g. "Measles doses given" + <1y /
>1y.
• Routine Data Element: is data that is collected at regular intervals through
mechanisms designed to meet predictable information needs: Such as Total OPD
cases / total delivery in a month.
• Semi-permanent Data Element: is data that changes at after relatively longer
intervals of time (say annually) as compared with routine health data. For example,
data on population in a district.
Data element: Groups/ Categories
• Data element groups: Some data element are group into different categories to
make it easy to generate selected reports
o Disaggregation (dimensions to data values)
o Deciding the detail on how data values are collected and stored
124 ▪ For example, "Malaria new cases" + <5y + Male
o A data element can be linked to one category combination
o A data value is linked to a category option combination
Figure 17: DHIS 2 Data element and data element group
Data
element
group
Data
element
Data element: Access and Reporting
• Each data element is linked to a data collection form
• User access all data elements for the forms linked to the facilities he/she is privileged
to view
Figure 18: The link between DHIS 2 Data element and Data collection form
125DHIS 2 Data Set
• Data set is a collection of data elements into a logical data collection tool
• In DHIS2 it acts as a transformation of the paper based forms into digital forms
Figure 19: DHIS 2 Data Set
Data Set: DHIS 2 Data Entry Procedures
• Each facility is assigned data set related to services it offers
• HMIS country coordinators coordinate allocation of forms (data sets) into DHIS2
• Apps > Data entry
126• Select ―WHERE‖ organization unit
• Select form (data set) to fill data
STEP 5: Generation of Reports from HMIS (MTUHA) Database
Software (35 minutes)
Data Set: DHIS 2 Reporting
• Pivot table
o Reporting rates: summaries of percentages of facilities forms/data set data
submission
o Apps > Pivot table > Select form under reporting rates > define period (when) and
organization units (where)
• Reports
o Data set report: summaries of data entered for the given form/data set and
selected period
o Apps > Reports > data set report > Data set > Define organization unit (where) >
Define period (when)
o Reporting rate summary: summaries of number of forms submitted and count
of ones submitted on time for each data set
DHIS 2 Period Dimension
• Periods are organised by types/frequencies;
o Monthly, Quarterly, Six-monthly, Yearly
o Most data is collected monthly
o IDSR weekly, HR quarterly, Population yearly
• Reports can be monthly or aggregated to
o Bi-Monthly, Quarterly, Six-monthly, or Yearly (and cumulative throughout the
year)
• Fixed periods
o 2013, March 2014,
• Relative periods can be used to allow easy reuse of report layouts and charts
o Last month, last quarter, this year etc.
127Figure 20: Period Selection
Figure 21: Period selection: Data Entry Procedure
DHIS 2 Software Indicators
• Indicator: a reflection of tracked data elements or situation in terms of a numeral
count, ratio factions, percentages etc.
• Ratio/Fraction indicators:
• Used to express an indicator as a fraction of two sets of data elements
128Examples of Indicators
• Birth by skilled attendant
o Type: Percentage (factor=100)
o Numerator: ―Skilled birth attendants‖
o Denominator: ‖Total Deliveries‖
• Measles coverage under 1 year
o Type: Percentage (factor=100)
o Numerator: ―Measles doses given <1 year‖
o Denominator: ‖Population <1 year‖25/11/2014
STEP 6: Key Points (05 minutes)
• HMIS is the system designed to collect facility based data and health related data.
• The data collected through HMIS data collection tools is used by health managers for
planning, evaluation and decision making.
• The Ministry of Health use DHIS 2 software to collect data and compile reports.
STEP 7: Evaluation (05 minutes)
• What is a Tanzania HMIS (MTUHA)?
• Which register is used as a HMIS guideline?
• Which register is used to summarize other HMIS data collection tools?
• What is DHIS 2?
STEP 8: Take Home Assignment (05 minutes)
Activity: Take Home Assignment
TELL the student to answer the following question:
• Mention RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) indicators that are
related to medicine and medical supplies, state the nominator and
denominator.
• State the MTUHA books that capture information/data related to
health commodities.
DIVIDE students into small manageable groups.
ALLOW group to work for three days and submit the task after scheduled
time.
CONDUCT general discussion by asking groups to present one of these
questions for not less than 5 minutes.
129SUMMARIZE the activity using training guidelines.
130References
Embrey, M. A. (2013). MDS-3: Managing access to medicines and health technologies.
Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Abdelhak M. (2014). Health Information: Management of Strategic Resources. 5th Ed.
Elsevier Health Science Publisher.
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
GNU. (2016). DHIS 2 User Manual. DHIS2 Documentation Team. Free Software
Foundation. Available at: www.gnu.org . accessed : 11.09.2018
MoHCDGEC. (2016). National Guideline for Health Data Quality Assessment. Dar es
salaam. Tanzania
WHO. (2008). Health Information System. Geneva. Available at:
www.healthmetricsnetwork.org . Accessed: 11.09.2008
131Reveal complete exact Facilitator Guide text — Session 11: Analysis of Data Using HMIS/MTUHA Database (Practical) (guide pages 132–138)
Session 11: Analysis of Data Using HMIS/MTUHA
Database (PRACTICAL)
Total Session Time: 120 minutes
Prerequisites
• None
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:
• Establish trends of pharmaceutical services from HMIS/MTUHA database
• Identify pharmaceutical services problems from analysed data
• Prepare reports
Resources Needed
• Flipcharts, marker pens, masking tape
• Black/whiteboard and chalk/white board markers
• Computer and LCD projector
• Online DHIS2
• HMIS Registers
SESSION OVERVIEW
Step Time Activity/Method Steps Title
Presentation, Presentation of Session Title and Learning
05 minutes
1 Tasks
Presentation/ Establish Trends of Pharmaceutical Services
2 25 minutes Brainstorm from HMIS (MTUHA) Database
Identify Pharmaceutical Services Problems
3 30 minutes Presentation from Analysed Data
Prepare Reports
4 50 minutes Presentation
6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points
7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation
132SESSION CONTENT
STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5
minutes)
READ the Learning Tasks to students
ASK students if they have any question before proceeding
STEP 2: Establish Trends of Pharmaceutical Services from
HMIS/MTUHA Database (25minutes)
The below are trends of Pharmaceutical Service while using inventory
program tools
HMIS, LMIS and DHIS
• Health management information systems (HMIS) collect, aggregate, and use service
data from health facilities
• Logistics management information systems (LMIS) collect and use commodity
supply data from health and storage facilities
• A HMIS collects and reports program information, such as incidence of
disease, client/patient information, and health services rendered.
• HMIS data can be used to determine disease patterns or to track health services
use, as well as to monitor and evaluate health service delivery.
• DHIS2 is the most widely used application in LMISs, and is optimized for data
reporting.
LMIS
• A LMIS is a system that is used to collect, organizes, and present logistics data
gathered from all levels of the health system.
• An LMIS enables logisticians to collect the data needed to make informed
decisions that will ultimately improve product availability and patient
treatment.
• One immediate decision that is made based on logistics data is the quantities of
products that should be resupplied to health facilities.
• An LMIS provides data needed to operate a supply chain.
o It collects data about health products such as quantities consumed, stock on
hand, losses and adjustment.
o It collects data from stores, dispensing records area.
133Features and functionality of LMIS in relation to pharmaceutical services
• Requisitions and Ordering
o Create, authorize, approve report and requisitions, both regular, based on
configured processing periods, and emergency.
o Supports offline data capture on key screens.
o Executes complex and configurable approval hierarchies.
o Calculates order amounts based on average consumption and max policies.
o Complex data validations to support quality data capture.
o Generate orders for external fulfillment based on approved requisitions.
• Setup and Customization
o Manage system users, role assignments, programs, facilities, orderable and
associations with bulk upload and administrative screens.
o Configure the system to match your processing and reorder periods,
policies and facility hierarchy.
• Stock Management
o Record transactions and view electronic stock cards (supports lot info)
o Perform physical inventory & adjustments
o Track ins/outs of stock – send and receive stock
DHIS 2
• it is used for Capturing, managing, and analysing of data
• Highly flexible and configurable platform with a wide variety of use cases
• Free and open source software
• Extensible through Web APIs and other applications
DHIS 2 Features
• GIS
• Pivot tables
• Charts
• Routine data
• Events
• Tracking
134 Linking HMIS and LMIS in Tanzania
HMIS LMIS
System used DHIS 2 eLMIS
Data collected Services (Patient, Product used for that
cases) service
Where data comes Services records Stores and dispensing
from records area
Frequency of data Monthly Quarterly
reporting from
facilities
Who enters data District HMIS focal District pharmacist
electronically in the person
system
STEP 3: Identify Pharmaceutical Services Problems from Analysed
Data (30minutes)
• HMIS forms in eLMIS
135STEP 4: Prepare Reports (50minutes)
• LMIS data compared with service data in HMIS, the sample dashboard graph
with sample data
• National level dashboard
o Consumption data has been pulled into DHIS2 and dashboards developed
to compare cases of PPH and retained placenta and consumption of
oxytocin, ergometrine, and misoprostal.
• Council (district) level dashboard
o Users can drill down into data of one council (district) to examine the
consumption and services data
136STEP 5: Key Points (05 minutes)
• To understand trends that occurs during data collection.
• Analyse data for interpretation.
• Generate reports from analysed data.
STEP 6: Evaluation (05 minutes)
• What are the common trends for data collection?
• What is data analysing?
• What is the importance of data analysing?
137References
GNU. (2016). DHIS 2 User Manual. DHIS2 Documentation Team. Free Software
Foundation. Available at: www.gnu.org . accessed : 11.09.2018
MOHCDGEC. (2016). National Guideline for Health Data Quality Assessment. Dar es
salaam. Tanzania
WHO. (2008). Health Information System. Geneva. Available at:
www.healthmetricsnetwork.org . Accessed: 11.09.2008
MoHSW, Strengthening Health Information System, Government printers, Dar es
Salaam
International Council on Archives (1999), Managing Public Sector Records,
Understanding computers an over view for records and archives: International
Records Management Trust London
Abdelhak M. (2014). Health Information: Management of Strategic Resources. 5th Ed.
Elsevier Health Science Publisher.
Aycock J. (2006). Computer Viruses and Malware. Springer International Publisher.
USA.
Couglas J.D. (2003). The Backup Book: Disaster Recovery from Desktop Data Center.
3rd Ed. Network Frontiers, LLC. US.
Davis A. (2014). Health Information Technology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Science
Publisher. USA.
138Practical Questions with Expected Answers
Question 1 — Secure electronic filing (20 marks)
Task: Create an electronic filing system for twelve pharmaceutical-service documents. Use folders for Active Records, Completed Records and Addenda; use meaningful file names; restrict completed records to read-only; create a backup copy; and prepare a one-page note showing the security controls applied.
- Folder structure is created correctly and files are placed in the appropriate folders.
- File names are clear, consistent and support quick retrieval.
- Completed records are set to read-only or otherwise protected from unauthorised alteration.
- Appropriate access, password or encryption control is demonstrated or described.
- A backup copy is created in a separate location.
- The security note identifies access control, antivirus/firewall protection, backup and authorised printing or sharing.
Question 2 — Spreadsheet analysis and presentation (30 marks)
Task: Using the supplied monthly consumption and stock data, create a suitable graph and histogram, identify two trends and one pharmaceutical-service problem, prepare a one-page report and present the main findings in four slides.
- Data are entered and checked correctly.
- A correct graph is generated with title, axes and legend.
- A histogram is generated from the selected frequency data.
- At least two trends are accurately stated from the displayed data.
- The problem identified is supported by the trend, for example a possible stock-out when stock falls while consumption rises.
- The one-page report applies accuracy, completeness, conciseness, objectivity, clarity and formatting.
- The four slides communicate the main data, trend, problem and action clearly.
Question 3 — Search, invoice, dispensing and inventory (25 marks)
Task: Search for specified pharmaceutical information using the internet; record the source; then use the training application to prepare an electronic invoice, record one dispensing transaction and update the inventory balance after receipt and issue of stock.
- Search terms are entered correctly and refined when necessary.
- A relevant result is selected and its source is recorded.
- The electronic invoice contains correct parties, items, quantities, prices and totals.
- The dispensing transaction contains correct patient and medicine information and is saved.
- Receipt and issue transactions are recorded and the stock balance is updated accurately.
- All records are checked before final saving or submission.
Question 4 — HMIS report generation and analysed report (25 marks)
Task: Using the training HMIS/MTUHA database, select the correct organisation unit and period, generate a pharmaceutical report, identify one trend and one service problem, and prepare a brief evidence-based report with a recommended action.
- Authorised login and correct organisation unit or period are used.
- The required report is generated from the correct data set.
- The output is checked for completeness and accuracy.
- A valid trend is stated from the data.
- A pharmaceutical-service problem is correctly identified from the analysed information.
- The brief report includes period, findings, interpretation, problem and recommended action.
- The report is saved or exported and the user logs out.
Facilitator-Guide References
| Assessment area | Facilitator Guide location |
|---|---|
| Electronic filing and data security | Session 1, pages 5–15 · Reveal exact source |
| Graphs, histograms and trends | Sessions 3–5, pages 29–74 · Session 3 · Session 4 · Session 5 |
| Report writing and presentation | Session 6, pages 75–80 · Reveal exact source |
| Backup, viruses, antivirus and searching | Session 7, pages 82–97 · Reveal exact source |
| Electronic invoicing, dispensing and inventory | Session 8, pages 100–107 · Reveal exact source |
| Importance of HMIS | Session 9, pages 108–113 · Reveal exact source |
| HMIS/MTUHA report generation | Session 10, pages 115–130 · Reveal exact source |
| Analysed HMIS/MTUHA reports | Session 11, pages 132–137 · Reveal exact source |
| Pharmaceutical information in vertical programmes | Session 12, pages 139–142 · Reveal exact source |
| Networking and dissemination | Session 13, pages 144–147 · Reveal exact source |
