Comprehensive Assessment of the Electronic Medical Record System at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital
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Date
2022-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Related to its bundles of advantages there is a worldwide trend toward paperless medical recording to avert the drawbacks of the paper based system. However, there is limitation in the adoption, expansion and modernization of Electronic Medical record (EMR) system in Ethiopia. There is also scarcity of data assessing the utilization of EMR in Ethiopia.
Objective: The objective of this study and Quality Improvement (QI) project is to assess the quality of the EMR system used in TASH, to assess Knowledge, Attitude & Practice (KAP) of health professionals toward EMR and determinant factors for EMR improvement.
Methods: A quantitative hospital based cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess KAP of health professionals while quality of EMR software was assessed using a checklist. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to analyze the KAP data.
Results: Study participants were all degree and above, mainly males (63.6 %), physicians (76.54 %) and from department of internal medicine (67.7%). Most own personal computer (98.8%) and had adequate EMR knowledge (74.7%) and preferred using EMR than paper based record system (87.7%). Seventy (43.2%) had EMR experience at other government hospital. Fifty percent of the participants claimed TASH EMR did not contain all necessary functions and majority (70.4% for Doctor iCare) agreed on the need to improve TASH EMR system though EMR satisfaction was generally good (87.1% for Doctor iCare). Orientation by colleagues and work exposure were the main sources of EMR knowledge; only 10% participants got training. Majority agreed on hospital leaders (76.5%) and financial constraints (72.3%) as primary barriers for EMR expansion and improvement.
Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude and practice of the end users are better. The interest to use EMR as compared to paper based recording is rewarding. EMR can be better implemented at TASH with better engagement of the hospital leaders and financial support.
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Keywords
Electronic medical record, Medical records, TASH