Developing a National Framework for Health Information Management Workforce Competencies in Nigeria

This study developed an evidence-based national framework for health information management workforce competencies in Nigeria. The health information management workforce occupies a critical function in the collection, analysis, storage, and dissemination of health data that underpins clinical care, health policy, and public health surveillance. Despite growing demand for skilled health information professionals, no unified national competency framework has been adopted in Nigeria. A sequential mixed-methods design was employed: Phase one consisted of a systematic review of international competency frameworks and the Nigerian health information literature; Phase two involved Delphi consensus-building with 65 experts drawn from the health sector, academia, regulatory bodies, and professional associations across all six geopolitical zones; Phase three validated the resulting framework through a national survey of 200 practising health information managers. The study produced a validated, context-sensitive National Health Information Management Competency Framework comprising seven competency domains. This framework makes an original applied contribution to health informatics policy and workforce development in Nigeria. Keywords: health information management, competency framework, Delphi method, Nigeria, workforce development.