Effectiveness of Information Sharing among Record Officers in Federal Medical Centers in North West Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The paper investigated the effectiveness of information sharing among FMCs (Federal Medical Centers) in North West. This study adopted quantitative research method using interview. The population of the study consists of all the record officers in Federal Medical Centers in North West zone of Nigeria. Data were collected from the record officers of the four (4) Federal Medical Centers that are situated in the North West zone of Nigeria (FMC Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State, FMC Gusau in Zamfara State, FMC Kebbi in Kebbi State and FMC Katsina in Katsina State. The study shows that the Record Officers of these FMCs engage in information sharing practices. It further reveals that CD-ROM and Email are not often use to share information. Television and social networking site are to some extent also available and used to share information among record officers. The result also clearly indicates that there is no policy governing the information sharing among FMCs, there is also problem of staff, budget system and power failure. The study recommends that Government should provide policy/guideline for information sharing among the FMCs.