Knowledge management practices at Uganda Cancer Institute

Abstract

Knowledge Management practices are deemed essential in achieving flexibility, responsiveness and the ability to adopt quickly to changes within the healthcare atmosphere, continuous improvement and learning, quality of healthcare service delivery and evidence based decisions. However, at Uganda Cancer Institute, knowledge is unstructured and unorganized, health workers cannot trace and use this knowledge when and where needed hindering the ability to make well informed decisions. The aim of this study was to examine Knowledge Management practices at Uganda Cancer Institute for improved organizational performance. This was achieved by determining the perception (awareness and acceptability) of healthcare Knowledge Management at Uganda Cancer Institute, determining their level of understanding of Knowledge Management in healthcare, identifying factors affecting Knowledge Management practices and proposing interventions for improving Knowledge Management practices at Uganda Cancer Institute. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approach by conducting a case study design. The study sample consisted of 169 health workers out of the 315 study population comprising of doctors, nurses, laboratory technologists, radiologists, pharmacists, and administrators. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from health workers using questionnaires and interview guide. From the findings, there was a positive perception about healthcare Knowledge Management, health workers at Uganda Cancer Institute understood Knowledge Management however their challenges were in implementing some of the practices. The findings further identified factors affecting Knowledge Management practices as; codification of tacit knowledge, organizational culture, Information and Communication Technology infrastructure, Knowledge Management strategy, and reliability of knowledge sources and proposed interventions for improving Knowledge Management at Uganda Cancer Institute as; encouragement of collaboration among health workers, top management involvement, translating knowledge in to policy and action, ICT solutions, robust Knowledge Management strategy, Knowledge Management awareness sessions, arranging more seminars / workshops, and credible and reliable knowledge sources. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were subsequently made to stakeholders and further ideas were then identified for future research.