Hospital information systems in the SUS: integrative research review

Abstract

The use of hospital information systems is an important management tool. This integrative review aimed to identify and analyze the scientific production about hospital information systems, between 1988 and August, 2009. Data were collected in electronic databases (LILACS, MEDLINE and BDENF), registered on specific form and the study population consisted of 31 articles. Articles were grouped in three categories, organized by similarity of content: epidemiological/demographic profile of hospitalizations (51.6%); analysis of information quality (25.9%) and organizational aspects of hospital services (22.6%). Results evidence the potential use of databases covering Brazilian literature, with administrative or epidemiological approach, as important source of information on the occurrence of hospitalizations and other health-related events. These databases have the advantage of covering all regions of the country, and the disadvantage of the low quality of information, due to the impossibility of leveling the local differences of human and material resources that handle them. There is only one publication in nursing periodical, evidencing the low adherence of nurses to the research of the theme, which is very pertinent, since it permits following the tendencies/perspectives of hospitalizations, giving support to the organization of human, material and physical space resources needed for hospital care.

Descriptors: Hospital Information Systems; Single Health System; Hospitalization; Organization and Administration; Nursing.