Medical equipment is an instrument, appliance, material, or other articles that can be used alone or in combination including the software necessary for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of the disease [1]. In health service delivery, the medical equipment is used for different purposes like diagnosis and treatment of disease or rehabilitation following the diseases or injuries. This equipment can be used either alone or in combination with different accessories, consumables, or another piece of medical equipment [2].
The availability and efficient utilization of medical equipment in health care facilities can affect the provision of a quality diagnosis services and clinical managements of patients [3]. In current health care system, the importance of efficient utilization of medical equipment has been brought to full public attention [4]. In addition, for its complicated consequences on the care costs, the association between hospital characteristics and utilization of high-technology medical equipment has received more attention [5].
When the health care facilities use the available medical equipment to its full potential that is very important so that the realistic performance of may be set is considered as the equipment is optimal utilized. An optimal utilization of the equipment could result in optimal patient handling and rapid turnover, minimum possible cost, quality of care, and patient satisfaction [6] and in an era of cost-intensive medical care, every equipment installed in health care facilities need to be fully and properly utilized [7].
From a simple scissor to a more complex and advanced medical devices are needed by health facilities ranging from a rural clinic to large specialized hospital. Yet, most of these health care facilities lack knowledge about these medical instruments that appropriate for their need. Particularly, in developing countries where health technology assessments are rare, this is common problem [8].
Utilization of the medical equipment effectively requires as a priority, increasing the number of investigations, and cost-effective and quality treatment. The evaluation of the global health experience has revealed that the advanced medical devices are in indispensable part of the medical care in the process of prevention, proper diagnosis and treatment diseases [9].
As an aspect of health technologies, medical equipment equips health care providers with tools to perform their functions effectively and efficiently. Despite the medical equipment provide an opportunity for a better health service, the lack of a national system for selection, procurement, use and management may lead to disproportionate escalation in health care delivery costs [10].
In the condition of resource constraint throughout the world in both developed and developing countries, the health systems are struggling with the challenge of how to manage health care delivery [11]. More than 50,000 different kinds of medical devices are estimated to be used in health care facilities all over the world every day. Most of the devices are quite simple, while some are complex and combine different technologies [12]. World Health Organization estimates that about 50% of medical equipment in developing countries is not functioning, not used correctly and optimally, and invariably is not maintained [13].
Medical equipment efficiency is one of the factors that are frequently overlooked by the management in health care delivery system which can lead losses by reducing yield. Inadequate preventive maintenance of equipment will result in low standards of diagnosis and treatment and increases the cost of maintenance of equipment [7].
In resource poor settings, the lack of working equipment has a devastating effect on health care delivery. In the developing world, it is often said that most the medical equipment ranging up to 95% are out of service and more than half (50%) the laboratory and medical equipment are not in service [14].
In majority of health care facilities in Africa, high quality of life saving medical devices is inaccessible and 40% of the equipment physically in possession of low resource hospitals all over the world is not usable [15].
It is estimated that more than 40% of the medical equipment available in health care facilities are not work properly at any time in Ethiopia. Lack of proper management of medical equipment has limited the capacity of health institutions to deliver adequate health care. It is estimated that only about 60% of medical equipment found in public hospitals and other health facilities are functional at any one time [16, 17].
Utilization index is one of the important parameters to monitor the functional status of the medical equipment or it is the parameter to assess the productivity of service of equipment [18].
In Ethiopia, improper utilization of healthcare technology has restricted the capacity of healthcare provider to deliver adequate healthcare services. Health technologies are essential for a functioning health system [16]. This needs the appropriate study to assess the efficient utilization of the medical equipment and associated factors in the country.
Hence, the study aimed to assess availability, utilization coefficient and factors affecting efficient utilization in public referral hospitals in East Wollega zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.
Conceptual framework
According different literature reviewed, the major factors associated with efficient utilization of medical diagnostic equipment are institutional related factors, equipment related factors, and professional operated related factors (Fig1).