Mentorship for electronic health record quality improvement in Nigeria: A practice framework

Reliable electronic health records depend on how consistently patient information is documented, checked, retrieved and protected. In Nigeria, workforce, workflow and governance constraints complicate this work. Clearer guidance is needed on how mentorship could support records quality alongside formal training and wider implementation support. The article aims to develop an evidence-informed practice framework for applying and evaluating mentorship in electronic health record quality improvement in Nigeria. Practice-development analysis synthesized Nigerian research on electronic health records and Health Information Management workforce needs with international evidence on mentoring, super-user support and workplace learning. The narrative evidence base drew on MEDLINE via PubMed, World Health Organization Global Index Medicus, including African Index Medicus, African Journals Online and Europe PMC, covering literature available to 18 August 2026. The synthesis examined implementation barriers, existing approaches, learning mechanisms and records-quality outcomes. Nigerian policies and international guidance informed the framework’s governance and standards components. Workforce learning needs coexisted with infrastructure limitations, workflow difficulties and governance concerns. Existing responses included curriculum reform, staff training, digital coding tools, workflow redesign and audit. The resulting framework begins with a recurring records problem and examines the underlying cause before selecting an appropriate response. Supported practice and feedback address identified learning needs, while clinical, technical and governance problems follow defined escalation routes. Authorized correction and independent reassessment complete the pathway. Responsibilities and indicators cover accuracy, completeness, authorized accessibility and secure management. A comparative pilot is proposed to assess the additional value of mentorship alongside usual training and implementation support. The framework gives mentorship a defined, testable role within electronic record quality improvement in Nigeria. Prospective evaluation is needed to establish feasibility, assess changes in records quality and examine implications for healthcare professionals and patient care. Keywords: Capacity building, digital health, electronic health records, health information, management mentoring, Nigeria