Clinical engineering effectiveness in developing world hospitals

Effective clinical engineering (CE) and health technology management are essential for improving health in the developing world. Building on the work of previous CE researchers, a novel, appropriate research instrument was developed and used to collect primary data from health technology managers in the developing world. A total of 207 valid responses were received. Responses profile the state of CE services, medical equipment, and equipment procurement and donation practices in secondary and tertiary care developing world hospitals. Results show African hospitals profiled are the least effective and most resource-poor, followed by Latin American hospitals. Asian hospitals deliver the most effective CE services. This work tested the hypothesis that Frize's CE effectiveness model for the developed world is applicable to the developing world as well. It is, and a refined developing country model is presented. Finally, this work developed a preliminary model for the relationship between CE effectiveness metrics and the state of medical equipment within developing world hospitals.