In-depth Interviews

Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 selected members of both the hospital and the College of Medicine’s Management Committees and with two senior members of staff who were involved in an international research project employing ICT applications. Prior to the commencement of the interviews, the respondents were assured of the

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confidentiality of their responses and that that their names would not be reflected in the transcriptions. Those interviewed were:

i). The Acting Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

The Faculty of Medicine, which has now metamorphosed into the College of Medicine, was one of the first faculties created when the University College, Ibadan, came into existence in 1948. It is the clinical teaching ground for various categories of medical personnel is the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan. The Provost is responsible for the day-to-day running of the College. The current Provost is also a Professor of Radiology and an Honorary Consultant to the hospital.

ii). The Dean, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine.

The Dean of Clinical Sciences is responsible for all of the academic programmes that are related to clinical medicine in the College, and is the alter ego of the Provost for all clinical training programmes. The current Dean is a Professor of Ophthalmology and also an Honorary Consultant to the hospital.

iii). The Director of Clinical Services, Research and Training, and the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee at the University College Hospital.

As the title suggests, he is responsible for overseeing all matters relating to clinical services, research and training in the hospital. He is the alter ego of, and the deputy to, the Chief Medical Director, who is the Chief Executive of the Hospital. The current occupier is a Professor of Gastroenterology and an Honorary Consultant to the hospital.

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iv). The Medical Librarian at the College of Medicine.

She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Medical Library.

v). The Senior Specialist Analyst, College of Medicine.

She is directly responsible for the management of the Information Technology (IT) Unit of the College, including the management of the server, and the Internet system, including the College website.

vi). The Acting Director, Information Technology (IT), University College Hospital.

Similarly to his counterpart in the College, he is responsible for the management of all IT-related issues within the hospital, including the hospital website.

vii). The Director of the Telemedicine Unit

The Director is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Telemedicine Unit. He prepares the monthly schedules of programmes for the Unit and oversees the management of the equipment.

viii). The Consultant to the Government of India at the Telemedicine Unit, UCH, Ibadan.

A citizen and employee of the Government of India, which has been collaborating with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the establishment and funding of the Telemedicine service.

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ix). The Deputy Director, Medical Records Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan.

She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the hospital record department, where all the records of patient care are kept. This department sees to the issuing, care, filling and storage of the patients’ index cards and case notes. The department also produces the patients’ statistics for the hospital with regard to patients’ admission, care, discharge and follow-up appointments.

(x). The Deputy Director, Public Relations Unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He is a top management staff of the Public Relations Department. This unit serves the first point of contact for all patients seeking information at the U.C.H. It also provides public relations services to the hospital. The Unit is the link between the hospital and the public.

xi). Senior Research Nursing Sister at the Fertility Research and Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, U.C.H., Ibadan.

She was selected because of her experience with the use of ICT application (mHealth) in conducting a research on the acceptability of Progesterone Vaginal Pill (PVR) – a new contraceptive method - in Africa being sponsored by the Population Council, New York.

xii). Another Senior Research Nursing Sister at the Fertility Research and Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, U.C.H., Ibadan.

He is top management staff of the Public Relations Department. This unit serves as the first point of contact for all of the patients seeking information at the U.C.H. It also

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provides public relations services to the hospital. The Unit is the link between the hospital and the public.

xi). Senior Research Nursing Sister at the Fertility Research and Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, U.C.H., Ibadan.

She was selected because of her experience in the use of ICT applications (m-Health) in conducting research on the acceptability of a Progesterone Vaginal Pill (PVR) – a new contraceptive method - in Africa, which was being sponsored by the Population Council, New York.

xii). Another Senior Research Nursing Sister at the Fertility Research and Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, U.C.H., Ibadan.

She is also involved in the use of an m-Health application for providing health information to family planning patients in a project that was being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Nigeria. She also uses a Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) to collect client information from clients accepting the Progesterone Vaginal Pill (PVR).

The in-depth interviews (IDI) enabled me to probe the interviewees on issues such as the local capacity that is available to use ICTs effectively and, if not, were there solid plans to strengthen that capacity; the involvement of the beneficiaries and end users in the development of existing ICT-enhanced health information and health-care programmes; the extent to which ICTs were building on, and strengthening, the existing information, knowledge and communication systems; the challenges that were being faced in implementing this type of intervention, and what needed to be in place in order to improve effectiveness. Another major area where IDIs was particularly useful is in determining the roles and collaboration of government (e.g., the Government of India), non-governmental

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organizations (such as the Population Council, New York, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, etc.) and other health consortia.

In order to maximize the quality of the information that was to be gathered, leading questions in the IDI Guidelines were designed in line with the study’s objectives. All the interviews were tape-recorded by me and were later transcribed.