Mentorship Models for Health Information Management and Digital Health Workforce Development in Nigeria: A Scoping Review

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Health Information Management, School of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

10.30476/jhmi.2026.110278.1350

Abstract

Introduction: Nigeria has invested substantially in electronic health records, hospital information systems, and national digital health programmes, yet limited attention has been given to the Health Information Management (HIM) and Digital Health professionals involved in their implementation and use. Although mentorship is widely recommended to strengthen the workforce in developing countries, evidence remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped peer-reviewed evidence on mentorship models relevant to this workforce in Nigeria and comparable settings.
Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley and Levac et al. frameworks and reported it according to PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language publications from 2015 to 2025. Eligibility was structured using a Population–Concept–Context framework, and records were screened and charted against predefined criteria.
Results: Of 341 records identified, 23 sources met the inclusion criteria: 19 primary empirical reports and four evidence syntheses. Eight of the 19 primary reports evaluated an implemented mentorship programme, and one of these eight used a concurrent comparison group. Four programmes used virtual or predominantly online delivery, while none specifically targeted HIM professionals. Reported outcomes included workforce competencies, research and digital skills, professional support, and health information system implementation and use.
Conclusion: Mentorship relevant to HIM and digital health is commonly embedded in broader capacity-building initiatives. Direct, comparative, and HIM-specific programme evidence remains limited, supporting the need for clearly specified models and more rigorous evaluation. Strengthening the HIM workforce requires mentorship designed for it, and evaluated well enough to inform policy.

Highlights

Yusuf Popoola: Google Scholar

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Health Management & Information Science
Volume 13, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 232-244

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