Abstract:
Knowledge is an essential and a central intangible asset in an organization and has been seen as power for groups who possess it. Knowledge management deals with the generation, use, reuse, and transmission of knowledge. In the healthcare sector, effective knowledge management increases efficiency, reduces the likelihood of errors, and improves communication among teams and organizations. However, among the many challenges facing the healthcare industry in Vihiga County are the growing complexity of the healthcare sector, inadequate information and resource access, and ineffective coordination and communication among healthcare professionals. This study aimed at developing a knowledge management framework for healthcare in Kenya where the scope was further narrowed down to Vihiga county. The research was anchored on the following specific objectives: To investigate the status of knowledge management practices in healthcare facilities, to determine the factors that affect knowledge management in healthcare and to develop a knowledge management framework for healthcare. The research adopted a mixed methods approach where both quantitative and qualitative data were used. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using
descriptive statistics tools like multiple regression, inferential statistics and presented using charts and tables while using ATLAS.ti9 tool thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data analysis and presented using themes. This study revealed that healthcare professionals in Vihiga County rarely contribute to knowledge management practices at a response rate of 84.9% which is an indicator of a negative knowledge sharing culture in the healthcare sector in Vihiga county. Again, the research found that: limited leadership support, frail technological infrastructure and difficulty in information accessibility are some of the challenges which affect knowledge management in healthcare. The knowledge management framework developed can not only be used in healthcare of Vihiga county but also in the other Counties in Kenya and even on a global scale.
