Evolving a scholarly journal for health records in Nigeria: issues and prospects

Abstract

Research is the systematic and rigorous process of inquiry, which aims to describe phenomenon and to develop and test explanatory concepts and theories. Health records professionals have obligations to manage patients’ health records used in patients’ care management, health services research and others. In addition to their management of health records, they participate in the conduct of researches by bringing in their skills, expertise, and knowledge of the importance and limitations of data quality. This is necessary to improve the validity and reliability of the evidence produced to improve public health. However, unlike their colleagues in developed nations, Nigerian health records professionals have not optimally explore the opportunities inherent in research. This study sought to relate challenges encountered during editorial functions that saw to the emergence of maiden edition of the International Journal of Health Records & Information Management (IJHRIM).