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Example: assessing feasibility of the identified indicators within the existing MHIS
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Stages of MHIS
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Task 2: Establish a minimum data set
Once the indicators are mapped, a minimum data set can be identified, based on what Once the indicators are
is feasible. This requires determining what minimum data are required to provide mapped, a minimum data
substance to the identified set of indicators (i.e. operationalizing the identified set can be determined.
indicators). For example, if an identified indicator was the annual number of admissions
in mental hospitals per 100 000 population, the minimum data required for that indicator
would be:
> Number of annual admissions to mental hospitals in the identified catchment area
during a year.
> Population of the catchment area.
Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between indicators and minimum data, using the
example of admission rates.
Formula
A useful set of questions for operationalizing the indicators include the following (Bodart Several key questions may
& Shrestha, 2000): be used to operationalize
the indicators
> What are the sources of the data (numerator and denominator)?
> At what frequency should the numerator and denominator be collected?
> At what frequency should the indicator be processed and analysed?
> Who will actually use the indicator?
> What is the target (objective) of the indicator that needs to be achieved?
> What is the threshold (i.e. the maximum or minimum value of the indicator) that
should trigger action?
> What action will need to be taken, based on the measurement of the indicator?
Table 6 below summarizes these questions, using an example that measures the
inpatient resources available for mental health in general health care. The purpose of
this indicator is to measure the percentage of general hospitals having inpatient
psychiatric facilities. This is important in the context of efforts to downscale psychiatric
asylums and integrate inpatient mental health care into general health care.
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Table 6. Example of operationalizing indicators: measuring the inpatient resources
available for mental health in general health care
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Box 12. Task 2 example: Minimum data set required to assess integration of
mental health into primary health care
> Percentage of training hours > Numerator: Number of training hours for PHC
devoted to psychiatry or doctors and nurses devoted to psychiatry/mental
mental health during health during specialization in primary care/family
specialization of PHC doctors medicine/general practice
and nurses in primary care, > Denominator: Total number of training hours for
family medicine or general PHC doctors and nurses during specialization in
practice primary care/family medicine/ general practice
> Percentage of primary care > Numerator: Number of primary care doctors and
doctors and nurses with at nurses with at least two days of in-service
least two days of in-service refresher training in psychiatry/mental health in the
refresher training in past year
psychiatry/mental health in > Denominator: Total number of primary care
the past year doctors and nurses working in primary care clinics
in the past year
> Percentage of primary care > Numerator: Number of primary care clinics with
clinics with assessment and assessment and treatment protocols in place
treatment protocols for key > Denominator: Total number of primary care clinics
mental health conditions
The next task is to map the information flow within the MHIS (collection, processing,
analysis, dissemination and use). The MHIS framework (above) needs to be
supplemented with flow charts showing how the information should flow. To illustrate
this, Box 13 below gives an example of a flow chart from the Gauteng MHIS in South
Africa (Figure 6).
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