Evaluation of Health Information Management students' internship program: A mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Health Information Management education
• Internship program effectiveness
• Workforce development in healthcare

Background:

• Internships are crucial for transitioning students from academic learning to practical application in Health Information Management (HIM).
• This study investigates the experiences of HIM faculty, interns, and hospital supervisors within Ghana's healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted experiences of Health Information Management stakeholders during internships in Ghana.
• To identify factors contributing to intern satisfaction and challenges encountered during practical training.

Main Methods:

• A concurrent mixed-methods approach combining qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (surveys) data collection.
• Study conducted in ten hospitals across six regions in Ghana, utilizing Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory for analysis.

Main Results:

• 96.2% of surveyed HIM interns received adequate guidance from supervisors, reporting knowledge gains and improved teamwork.
• Intern satisfaction was linked to opportunities for initiative, perceived employability, and contributing to facility goals.
• Qualitative findings indicated challenges with logbook adherence and supervision, yet interns were seen to enhance hospital staff capacity.

Conclusions:

• Internships are vital for HIM professional development but face challenges including supervision, financial support, and program structure.
• Recommendations include enhancing supervision, extending internship durations, enforcing logbook completion, and providing financial aid.