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The Public Health Value of Coding Surgery in South Africa Using the International Classification of Health Interventions

Author

Listed:
  • Sithara Satiyadev

    (School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Richard Madden

    (School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
    School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Judith Bruce

    (School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa)

Abstract

Background: The lack of a national intervention coding system and the current intervention coding in South Africa through the use of multiple billing and coding systems does not support quality intervention data collection and patient outcomes reporting for general surgery. This presents difficulties in the understanding of the different types of general surgical interventions performed in hospitals, the associated resources, risks, complications, outcomes reporting, public healthcare delivery, and determination of barriers to care. This study illustrates the use of accurate data on health interventions in South Africa’s acute care general surgery coding to assist in improved resource allocation, using the new WHO International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). ICHI has over 8000 codes and consists of three axes: Target (the entity on which the Action is carried out), Action (a deed performed by an actor to a target), and Means (the processes and methods by which the Action is carried out). A key benefit of ICHI is that it can be used collectively with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Objectives: to evaluate the suitability of ICHI for general surgery interventions by coding intervention descriptions to ICHI codes; to identify gaps in the ICHI system; and to provide a rationale for ICHI to be a nationally regulated system. Methods: This study adopted a retrospective, descriptive design; in total, 3000 in-patient intervention data files, captured in an electronic database from April 2013 to August 2019 at three academic hospitals in Johannesburg, were extracted randomly, and coded using ICHI. Quantitative data analysis techniques were utilized to assess the overall degree of match between ICHI codes and the intervention descriptions. Results: Of the 3000 patient case entries that were coded, there was an agreement of 67.6% of the coded data amongst the three coders, leaving a variability of 32.4%. The variability was largely due to the coders’ experience and the quality of healthcare documentation. Conclusions: ICHI has the ability to cater for the broad range of general surgery interventions, thus indicating that ICHI is suitable for general surgery coding.

Suggested Citation

  • Sithara Satiyadev & Richard Madden & Judith Bruce, 2023. "The Public Health Value of Coding Surgery in South Africa Using the International Classification of Health Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-8, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3445-:d:1069888
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicola Fortune & Richard Madden & Ann-Helene Almborg, 2018. "Use of a New International Classification of Health Interventions for Capturing Information on Health Interventions Relevant to People with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Richard Madden & Nicola Fortune & Julie Gordon, 2022. "Health Statistics in Australia: What We Know and Do Not Know," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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