Data utilization and analytical skills among NLEP managers. National Leprosy Elimination Programme

Mid-level managers of the National Leprosy Elimination Programme, India were assessed regarding their ability to turn routine data received from primary units into tools for management, analysis and decision making. Sixty-two managers (25 District leprosy officers, 37 Medical officers) were administered a questionnaire containing 20 questions on calculations of rates, ratios, proportions, percentages as well as construction and interpretation of graphs. It was found that 11% of the study subjects scored very poor, 48% scored poor, 35% scored good and only 5% of the managers scored very good. Among the district leprosy officers, 8%, 40%, 48% and 4% were rated as performing very poor, poor, good and very good, respectively. Among the medical officers, the corresponding figures were 14%, 54%, 27% and 5%.