Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Health Information Practitioners Towards Health Information Best Practices in Maroko Phc, Better Life Phc, Oka Phc, Moferere Oja Phc and Jimekun Phc in Ondo West Lga of Ondo State

ABSTRACT Health Information Management (HIM) is a vital field that encompasses the collection, storage, retrieval, and use of healthcare information to foster better collaboration across various stakeholders within the healthcare system. The primary objective of HIM professionals is to ensure that all patient records are accurate, accessible, secure, and compliant with standards and regulations. In the constantly evolving field of healthcare, the management of health information stands as a critical cornerstone that ensures the efficacy, privacy, and accessibility of medical data. Health Information Management (HIM) practitioners are at the forefront of this sector, tasked with the complex responsibilities of collecting, maintaining, and analyzing health data in ways that uphold both legal and ethical standards. The importance of their role cannot be overstated, as they significantly influence the quality of healthcare services and patient outcomes through their management practices. A Descriptive cross sectional study design was used for this study, with adopted questionnaire for 72 participants and all returned for analyzed using SPSS Version 24. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the eligible participants; descriptive statistics was presented in form of frequency distribution tables. Results revealed the respondents demographic data and majority of the respondents are 31yrs and above in their 61%, majority married 58%, 92% Christians and 71 have been working over 6yrs. In the practice of health information management, 90% agreed and asserted that professional ethics uphold and defend patients’ right, 97% agreed that service and welfare of patient first should place first before self-interest/material gain and 96% agreed that refusal to participate in or conceal unethical practices is a professional ethic with a good reputation. Request on patient’s health information health information should pass through the right channel and care must be taken not to let third party sees it with 100% and patients health information must be kept intact and provide when needed with 97% Professional ethics has a great effect on the practice of health information management. As the custodians of sensitive medical information, health professionals play a pivotal role in upholding ethical standards that not only guide their clinical practice but also ensure the protection of patients' confidentiality. Health information management practitioner has handful knowledge in the standardized practice of health information management asserted that patient health information is patient life and must be kept privately