Adoption of Electronic Medical Records among Health Professionals at Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau, Ethiopia
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Date
2012-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Wellness and health are central to live of all people of age group. Incorporating information communication like Electronic Medical Records on the health care industries is mandatory for the better improvement of patient care and safety, integrated research, for effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of disease etc. Electronic Medical Record implementation in public hospitals in Addis Ababa is on the infant stage not more than three years since its inception. Even though There is discrepancy in adoption among health professionals and is not utilized as needed due to different factors ,most of the public hospitals have implemented it. So identifying the factors which affect the adoption will help to apply proactive measure and correction so as to increase the adoption of EMR among health professionals whom are working at the public hospitals.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at identifying the factors that affect the Behavioral Intention and usage behavior of Electronic Medical Record and determine the utilization status among health professionals working in public hospital in Addis Ababa City Administration health Bureau.
METHOD: A Cross-sectional survey was carried out among health professionals working at public hospitals in Addis Ababa using modified theory of unified acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Four hundred eight health professionals who had training on EMR were interviewed at the five public hospitals.
RESULTS: The utilization of EMR among health professions working at the public hospitals was 51.7%. Performance expectancy, Effort expectancy, social influence were factors influencing the behavioral intention of health professionals to adopt EMR and Behavioral intention was also significant influencing factor on actual usage behavior. Facilitating condition remains insignificant on the actual usage behavior of EMR among health professionals.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The utilization rate of EMR was 51.7%: Having no experience, misunderstanding on the relative advantage, perceiving complexity of the system, inadequate support of the top managers, low behavioral intent were factors associated with the behavioral intention and actual usage of EMR. This study indicates that the necessity of integrating health management information system with the daily health care activities and development of health information policy that can scale the utilization rate.
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Wellness and health are central