Primary Health Care Information Systems in Health Centers of Tehran, Iran

Primary health care is the major infrastructure of health care systems. It is clear that making and improving primary health care information systems would not be possible without awareness of their condition. Therefore, this comparative study was conducted in order to determine the situation of primary health care information systems in health centers of Tehran, Iran. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on primary health care information systems of 60 health centers in rural and urban areas of the province of Tehran during 2010. Data was collected through observations and interviews based on a checklist. The validity and reliability of the checklist were assessed by content validity and test-retest approach, respectively. SPSS was used for data analysis. None of the studied health centers used computerized health care information systems, i.e. they all utilized manual systems. In addition, demographic data, the population of the covered area, and health status were included in 71.3%, 88.7%, and 82.9% of the systems. However, data related to efficiency, availability of services and socioeconomic status was not found in any of the evaluated information systems. Related processes such as different kinds of statistical computations, and monthly and yearly reports were performed in 74.3%, 46.4%, and 23.5% of centers, respectively. Electronic transfer of primary health care information systems and international standards did not exist in any of the centers. Computerized organizational approaches are required to be used for distribution, storage, and analysis of data to provide efficient and accessible care. Moreover, considering the importance of employing computerized and internet-based technologies in primary health care, experts need to be asked for necessary consultations.