Willingness to use electronic medical record (EMR) system and its associated factors among health professionals working in Amhara region Private Hospitals 2021, Ethiopia

by Andualem Fentahun Senishaw, Biniyam Chakilu Tilahun, Araya Mesfin Nigatu, Shegaw Anagaw Mengiste, Karen Standal

Despite the high expectations of electronic medical records as a great prospect for improving performance in healthcare, the level of adoption and utilization, particularly in a developing country, is low. Knowing the willingness to use the electronic medical record system in the private hospital has an impact on the future implementation status and utilization of the electronic medical record in Ethiopia. However, there was no evidence of the status of the willingness to use electronic medical record systems in private hospitals in the Amhara region. This study aimed to assess the willingness to use electronic medical record Systems and its associated factors among health professionals working in Amhara Region Private Hospitals.

A cross-sectional institutional study was performed among 406 health professionals selected using proportional allocation with a simple random sampling technique in Amhara region private hospitals by using self-administered structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were performed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% Confidence interval.

Out of the 406 participants included in the analysis, 307 (75.6%) showed a willingness to use the electronic medical record system. About three hundred twelve (76.8%) health professionals had good knowledge of electronic medical record systems, and 257 (63.3%) had good computer skills in electronic medical record systems. Health professionals who had electronic medical record knowledge (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI (1.004–3.409)), EMR training (3.29, 95% CI (1.353–8.003)), technical support personnel (1.92, 95% CI (1.122–3.305)), supportive supervision (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI (1.072–3.628)), and computer skill on electronic medical record (1.77, 95% CI (1.002–3.148)) were significantly associated with the outcome variable.

This finding shows a good proportion of willingness to use the electronic medical record system. The most significant factors associated with willingness to use the electronic medical record system were a lack of computer skills, computer training, and knowledge of the electronic medical record system.