Factors associated with the utilization of electronic medical records in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Essuman, LR; Apaak, D; Ansah, EW; Sambah, F; Ansah, JE; Opare, M; Ahinkorah, BO

Factors associated with the utilization of electronic medical records in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Essuman, LR Apaak, D Ansah, EW Sambah, F Ansah, JE Opare, M Ahinkorah, BO

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Health Policy and Technology, 2020, 9, (3), pp. 362-367
Issue Date:: 2020-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Essuman, LR
dc.contributor.author	Apaak, D
dc.contributor.author	Ansah, EW
dc.contributor.author	Sambah, F
dc.contributor.author	Ansah, JE
dc.contributor.author	Opare, M
dc.contributor.author	Ahinkorah, BO
dc.date.accessioned	2021-05-23T09:15:51Z
dc.date.available	2021-05-23T09:15:51Z
dc.date.issued	2020-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	Health Policy and Technology, 2020, 9, (3), pp. 362-367
dc.identifier.issn	2211-8837
dc.identifier.issn	2211-8845
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149077
dc.description.abstract	Objectives: This study examined the factors associated with the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in public hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods: Three hundred and ninety-six (396) healthcare professionals were surveyed from the various public hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The participants included physicians, physician assistants, nurses, laboratory technicians, radiologists, pharmacists, record managers, and ICT staff. Frequency and Chi-Square analyses were performed on the data. Results: The results showed that approximately 59% (n=212) of health professionals indicated low use of EMR services in their hospitals. Lack of computer competence (p<0.001), poor communication between users (p=0.050), cost of EMR resources and facilities (p<0.001), lack of technical personnel to install and operate EMR technology resources (p<0.001), and lack of EMR software packages (p<0.001) had significant negative relationships with EMR utilization. Conclusion: Utilization of EMR services is low among the healthcare professionals in the Eastern Region. Therefore, the Ghana Health Service needs to provide training to their employees and supply the needed resources to encourage and support the hospitals and healthcare workers to increase the utilization of the EMR services that improve healthcare delivery in the Region. To enhance EMR utilization, it will be essential that government supports health facilities who have challenges using EMR. To better understand the issues, a mixed method approach is recommended to be used to study healthcare workers from both private and public healthcare facilities in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Health Policy and Technology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.002
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0806 Information Systems, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1605 Policy and Administration
dc.title	Factors associated with the utilization of electronic medical records in the Eastern Region of Ghana
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	9
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration
utslib.for	0806 Information Systems
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-05-23T09:15:48Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	9
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Objectives: This study examined the factors associated with the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in public hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods: Three hundred and ninety-six (396) healthcare professionals were surveyed from the various public hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The participants included physicians, physician assistants, nurses, laboratory technicians, radiologists, pharmacists, record managers, and ICT staff. Frequency and Chi-Square analyses were performed on the data. Results: The results showed that approximately 59% (n=212) of health professionals indicated low use of EMR services in their hospitals. Lack of computer competence (p<0.001), poor communication between users (p=0.050), cost of EMR resources and facilities (p<0.001), lack of technical personnel to install and operate EMR technology resources (p<0.001), and lack of EMR software packages (p<0.001) had significant negative relationships with EMR utilization. Conclusion: Utilization of EMR services is low among the healthcare professionals in the Eastern Region. Therefore, the Ghana Health Service needs to provide training to their employees and supply the needed resources to encourage and support the hospitals and healthcare workers to increase the utilization of the EMR services that improve healthcare delivery in the Region. To enhance EMR utilization, it will be essential that government supports health facilities who have challenges using EMR. To better understand the issues, a mixed method approach is recommended to be used to study healthcare workers from both private and public healthcare facilities in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149077