Application of quantitative techniques in decision making by healthcare managers and administrators in Nigerian public tertiary health institutions

Abstract

Introduction

The study was aimed at comparing the applicability of quantitative techniques and its relevance in decision making by clinical and non-clinical healthcare managers and administrators.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study in design conducted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife amongst 52 clinical and 50 non-clinically related healthcare managers and administrators. Data collection tool was a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics of SPSS version 20 with statistical significance determined at p < 0.05.

Results

A higher proportion of the non-clinical healthcare managers and administrators were familiar and had used more quantitative techniques than their clinical counterparts. Experience ranked highest as the current method employed by both groups for most decision needing scenarios presented. There was no statistically significant difference in their perceived effectiveness of the current methods guiding decision making. However, a statistically significant difference was found in the methods preferred by both study population only for ‘reducing waiting lines, p = 0.015’ and in ‘maximising the use of human resources, p = 0.017’.

Conclusions

Approach to decision making in the Nigerian health sector is still largely experiential and more of a personalised bargaining process. Acknowledgement of the relevance of quantitative techniques by clinical and non-clinically related health managers and administrators as found in this study is hoped to accelerate the adoption of these techniques. It is believed that its application will lead to improved health service delivery and health outcomes.