Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study

BackgroundProper documentation is very essential to healthcare practice. It is vital for continuity of care and communication among healthcare workers. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the application of Social and Behavioral Change Communication strategy to improving docume...

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Main Authors: Chinwe Eze, Ngozi Murphy-Okpala, Okechukwu Ezeakile, Joseph Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeke, Chibuike Agu, Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu, Sode Matiku, Beatrice Kirubi, Anthony Meka, Martin Njoku, Francis S. Iyama, Edmund Ossai, Akpan Bassey, Johnson Babalola, Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro, Charles Nwafor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1462944/full
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author Chinwe Eze
Ngozi Murphy-Okpala
Okechukwu Ezeakile
Joseph Chukwu
Ngozi Ekeke
Chibuike Agu
Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu
Sode Matiku
Beatrice Kirubi
Anthony Meka
Martin Njoku
Francis S. Iyama
Edmund Ossai
Akpan Bassey
Johnson Babalola
Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro
Charles Nwafor
author_facet Chinwe Eze
Ngozi Murphy-Okpala
Okechukwu Ezeakile
Joseph Chukwu
Ngozi Ekeke
Chibuike Agu
Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu
Sode Matiku
Beatrice Kirubi
Anthony Meka
Martin Njoku
Francis S. Iyama
Edmund Ossai
Akpan Bassey
Johnson Babalola
Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro
Charles Nwafor
author_sort Chinwe Eze
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundProper documentation is very essential to healthcare practice. It is vital for continuity of care and communication among healthcare workers. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the application of Social and Behavioral Change Communication strategy to improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in two states in Nigeria.MethodsA longitudinal study with a pre-post-intervention design was utilized. An audit of documented specimen examination request forms was conducted at two-month intervals. The initial audit served as baseline. Subsequent audits were to monitor progress and assess impact of intervention. For each audit, a minimum of 10 facilities was purposively selected across the two states, including an average of five GeneXpert sites and six health facilities. Based on availability, a maximum of 50 specimen examination request forms were consecutively selected per GeneXpert site or facility for audit. The interventions included modification of the specimen examination request form, training and educational sessions, regular audit of forms, progress monitoring, and feedback.ResultsThere was an increase in the proportion of each variable meeting the documentation standard across the four audit rounds. This progress was observed across the four audit rounds for most of the variables, with the most substantial improvement recorded in the fourth audit. In all, there was a significant improvement in the proportion of each specimen examination form that met the documentation standards (p < 0.001). These variables included detailed address of patient, patient phone number and phone number of person requesting the examination. Variables on the revised form which showed significant changes across the four audit periods included name and phone number of next of kin (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe SBCC intervention markedly enhanced accurate and comprehensive documentation of specimen examination request forms among frontline healthcare workers. Key components, such as repeated training sessions, education emphasizing the benefits of sound documentation practices, consistent supervision, monitoring, feedback, and ensuring a sufficient supply of forms, collectively played integral roles in maximizing the effectiveness of the intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-e5752d4eb03947eb8d8f7b37cdfbca3a2025-08-20T03:06:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14629441462944Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after studyChinwe Eze0Ngozi Murphy-Okpala1Okechukwu Ezeakile2Joseph Chukwu3Ngozi Ekeke4Chibuike Agu5Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu6Sode Matiku7Beatrice Kirubi8Anthony Meka9Martin Njoku10Francis S. Iyama11Edmund Ossai12Akpan Bassey13Johnson Babalola14Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro15Charles Nwafor16Department of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Medical, DAHW German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association, Würzburg, GermanyDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Community Medicine, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, NigeriaDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu, NigeriaNew Dimension Consulting, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaSTOP TB Partnership, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Community Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaAkwa Ibom State TB, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Uyo, NigeriaOyo State TB, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Ibadan, Nigeria0National TB, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Programs, RedAid Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaBackgroundProper documentation is very essential to healthcare practice. It is vital for continuity of care and communication among healthcare workers. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the application of Social and Behavioral Change Communication strategy to improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in two states in Nigeria.MethodsA longitudinal study with a pre-post-intervention design was utilized. An audit of documented specimen examination request forms was conducted at two-month intervals. The initial audit served as baseline. Subsequent audits were to monitor progress and assess impact of intervention. For each audit, a minimum of 10 facilities was purposively selected across the two states, including an average of five GeneXpert sites and six health facilities. Based on availability, a maximum of 50 specimen examination request forms were consecutively selected per GeneXpert site or facility for audit. The interventions included modification of the specimen examination request form, training and educational sessions, regular audit of forms, progress monitoring, and feedback.ResultsThere was an increase in the proportion of each variable meeting the documentation standard across the four audit rounds. This progress was observed across the four audit rounds for most of the variables, with the most substantial improvement recorded in the fourth audit. In all, there was a significant improvement in the proportion of each specimen examination form that met the documentation standards (p < 0.001). These variables included detailed address of patient, patient phone number and phone number of person requesting the examination. Variables on the revised form which showed significant changes across the four audit periods included name and phone number of next of kin (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe SBCC intervention markedly enhanced accurate and comprehensive documentation of specimen examination request forms among frontline healthcare workers. Key components, such as repeated training sessions, education emphasizing the benefits of sound documentation practices, consistent supervision, monitoring, feedback, and ensuring a sufficient supply of forms, collectively played integral roles in maximizing the effectiveness of the intervention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1462944/fullsocial and behavior change communicationeffectivenessdocumentation practiceshealthcare workersNigeria
spellingShingle Chinwe Eze
Ngozi Murphy-Okpala
Okechukwu Ezeakile
Joseph Chukwu
Ngozi Ekeke
Chibuike Agu
Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu
Sode Matiku
Beatrice Kirubi
Anthony Meka
Martin Njoku
Francis S. Iyama
Edmund Ossai
Akpan Bassey
Johnson Babalola
Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro
Charles Nwafor
Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
Frontiers in Public Health
social and behavior change communication
effectiveness
documentation practices
healthcare workers
Nigeria
title Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
title_full Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
title_fullStr Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
title_short Evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern Nigeria: a before and after study
title_sort evaluating the impact of social and behavior change communication intervention on improving documentation practices among healthcare workers in southern nigeria a before and after study
topic social and behavior change communication
effectiveness
documentation practices
healthcare workers
Nigeria
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1462944/full
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