Assessing Employee Training's Contribution to Health Service Delivery at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess employee training’s contribution to health service delivery
in public health facilities, such as the case of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH). The study
answers the question of whether and how employee training is associated with the quality of
health service delivery. The study was guided by the human capital theory and applied mixed
methods with a cross-sectional design. Primary data were collected from 89 service providers
and 68 beneficiaries at BMH using questionnaires, whereas eight key informants were
interviewed. Quantitative data were analysed using the descriptive statistics generated by R
Version 4.3.4 in the form of frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, sample means tests,
assumptions of normality tests, and correlation analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using
thematic analysis. The study found that much more attention was given to on-the-job training
than it was given to off-the-job training, subject to budgetary constraints and limited study
leaves to secure the workload balance needs. Nonetheless, there was a very strong positive
correlation between effective employee training and quality of health service delivery [rho =
0.879, p-value<0.001; 95% CI = 0.821 - 0.919]. This relationship is mediated through skills,
competence, and confidence attributable to regular, relevant, and inclusive training, all of which
depend on the scope of the training programs and how well they are being implemented. Thus,
the government needs to increase the absorption rate so that off-the-job training is not
compromised, especially when the management limits study leave to meet excessive workload
balance needs.