Knowledge Sharing Practice and Associated Factors Among Health Care Workers at Public Hospitals in North Shoa, Amhara

Abstract

Knowledge is the most important strategic resource and critical to organizational success. However, practice of knowledge sharing among workers in the health institution is poorly practiced. An institutional based cross-sectional quantitative study supported with qualitative data was conducted from February 30 to March 30/2016 among 291 health care workers for the quantitative data and 10 department heads were interviewed for the qualitative part. Logistic regression was used to assess the presence of association between dependent and independent variables using SPSS at 95% CI and 5% margin of error. The study revealed that level of knowledge sharing among health care workers in the selected hospitals was 66.6%. Knowledge sharing opportunity (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI = [1.17-6.01], access to technology (AOR=2.27, 95% CI=[1.17-4.40], familiarizing health care workers to technology (AOR=3.23, 95%CI=[1.28-8.12] and trusty relationship (AOR=4.78, 95% CI = [1.73-13.22] were independent predictors for knowledge sharing practice. Even though most of the participants were aware, willing and have an intrinsic motivation to share their knowledge, they practiced it poorly for several reasons. The identified main determinants are access to ICT infrastructure, familiarization to available technologies, trust between staff and knowledge sharing opportunity. Hospitals should enhance trusting relationship among health care workers; create knowledge sharing opportunity; avail technological infrastructure and familiarize health care workers to technology to increase knowledge sharing in the organization.