Factors Affecting Health Professionals' Adoption of Electronic Medical Records at Public Health Facilities in Harari Region in Ethiopia: a Mixed Approach
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Date
2025-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background :The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has realized the importance of electronic medical records (EMRs) and
has been taking steps to introduce them across the country since 2013 to improve the quality of health
care delivery in the country. In relation to this, Harari region state health facilities have managed to keep
EMRs running, but no study has looked at the factors affecting the adoption of EMRs in the health
facilities in the region using the comprehensive model in post-implementation phase. Since health
professionals are users of the EMR, it is essential to comprehend factors affecting the adoption of the
EMR.
Objectives:To explore the factors that affect the adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) systems by the
health professionals in Harari region public health facilities, in 2025.
Methods:The cross-sectional study was employed to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of electronic
medical records in public health facilities in the region. Health facilities that have implemented
electronic medical records were included in the study. The data was collected using the selfadministered
questionnaire and key informant interviews that involve the EMR users as study
participants for the quantitative approach and HMIS head and IT personnel from each health facilities
and regional health bureau for the qualitative approach. The data was analyzed using SPSS and
ATLAS.ti for the quantitative and qualitative respectively.
Results:A total of 351 respondents participated in the study making response rate of 95.9%. More than half of
the respondents were female 204 (58.12%). The mean age (+SD) of the respondents is 32.34±8.9.
The multivariate logistic regression revealed that being female (AOR=0.22, ( 95%,CI 0.054-0.90)). In
contrast, higher personal innovativeness (AOR=20.783, [95% CI 2.54-170.49]), positive attitude
(AOR=7.50,(95% CI 1.11-50.70), and higher experience (AOR=6.64, p<.005) are associated with
increased intention to use.
From the qualitative study factors like technology anxiety, experience, lack of necessary infrastructure,
manpower, adequate training and electricity were identified.
Conclusion:EMR users showed strong intention to use the EMR system, the barriers like technology anxiety, lack of
infrastructure, resource, manpower, continuous training, electricity outage have been identified as a
challenge that hinder the adoption. Providing technical and material support in addition to consistent
follow-up is crucial to further improve the adoption.
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Keywords
Electronic medical records, Health Facility, Health professionals, Adoption, Intention, Harari, Ethiopia