Evaluation of Awareness and Utilization of Electronic Health Records System among Public Health Workers in Ondo State, Nigeria
Abstract
Electronic health records (EHR) system provides invaluable contributions to the quality health care delivery. It helps in compilation, storage and management of electronic records of health related information of patients by authorized health care providers in health institutions. EHR system saves costs, reduces medical errors, saves time, evaluates and monitors patients’ health records among others. EHR system in medical practices has seen a significant increase in recent time but of limited use among health professionals in both private and public health institution in Nigeria. Thus, this study aims at evaluating the level of awareness and utilization of electronic health records system among health workers in Ondo State. A descriptive cross sectional design was adopted for this investigation. The sample consists of three hundred and ninety nine (399) public health workers purposively selected from six government’s owned hospitals in Ondo State. A systematic sampling technique was used to select participants from the study population. Data was collected using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using both descriptive and inferential statistics package for social sciences (SPSS). The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents are aware of the existence of electronic health records resources but are not making use of them in their various places of work. The result of the hypothesis tested between the respondents’ level of awareness by electronic health record and administrative purpose showed that there is significant relationship between the two variables (r =12.29, p<0.000). However, there is no significant relationship between respondents use of electronic health record system and administrative purpose (r = 13.09, p = 0.789). This study concluded that most health workers in Ondo State have high awareness of electronic health records resources but low utilization of the EHRS in their various offices. This study, therefore, recommended among others that government should ensure training and re- training of health workers on the use of information communication technology (ICT), improve electricity supply, procure and install computer system and internet facilities in the health institutions for efficient and effective service delivery