Determinants of Utilization of Biomedical Engineering Profession in Private Hospitals in Kenya a Case of Nairobi County

Abstract

Biomedical engineering Professionals work at the intersection of engineering, the life sciences and healthcare. These engineers take principles from applied science (including mechanical, electrical, chemical and computer engineering) and physical sciences (including physics, chemistry and mathematics) and apply them to biology and medicine(R.A Malkin 2007).Biomedical engineering is the fastest-growing career and this trend is expected to continue over the next decade .With accelerated healthcare competition Globally and the popularity of biomedical technology usage, there is a need to understand what factors are most important in enabling biomedical engineering healthcare professionals to develop and foster collaborations with healthcare professionals. This study closely looks at Kenyan Private Hospitals registered by Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) based in Nairobi County. The objectives of the study are: (1) To determine the extent to which Hospital Management system influences the utilization of BME professionals (2) To examines the level at which Hospital policy contributes to the Utilization of BME professionals? (3)To examine how the Challenges faced by BME Professionals influence their utilization (4) To asses level at which Equipment specialty training affects utilization of BME professionals. The study employed a descriptive survey research design with a focus on those hospitals registered under the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) in Nairobi county. The target population of the study was 120 persons from 10 private Hospitals in Nairobi County to give sample size 92. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The data was summarized, coded and tabulated. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviation and frequency distribution was used to analyze the data. Data presentation was done by the use of pie charts, bar charts and graphs, percentages and frequency tables. There is a strong positive relationship (г=0.794, p<0.000) between hospital management system and utilization of MBE professionals. There was fairly strong positive relationship between hospital policy and Utilization of BME professionals (г=0.523, p<0.000).It was found out that the relationship between the challenges faced by BME Professionals influence on their utilization was a weak negative but significant (г=-0.014,p= 0.038). It was established that there was a strong positive and significant between equipment specialty training and utilization of BME Professionals, (г=0.625, p=0.012).The researcher concluded that the, hospital management system, hospital policy, challenges faced by BME Professionals and equipment specialty training on the utilization of MBE professionals. It was recommended that the private hospitals need to strengthen hospital management system, hospital policy, equipment specialty training and address the challenges faced by BME Professionals for better utilization of MBE professionals and improved quality of healthcare to clients.