Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Healthcare Workers on use of Electronic Medical Records in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna, Kaduna State Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Electronic Medical Records (EMR) has shown a lot of advantages over conventional paper-based medical records. Its use has grown rapidly in the developed world and yet most African nations are still lagging behind. In Nigeria, the penetration of EMR is low with less than 10.0% of hospitals embracing it. Factors responsible for this low penetration or use of EMR in Nigeria include interoperability issues, epileptic power supply, cost of installation, resistance to change, health providers' and patients' poor orientation. This study aimed to assess level of knowledge, attitude and perception of health care workers on the use of EMR in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2019 among 128 healthcare workers that were randomly selected using stratified sampling technique. Pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were cleaned and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Univariate analysis to generate summary statistics, proportions and frequency tables was conducted. While Bivariate analysis was conducted to identify variables that were significantly associated with respondents knowledge, attitude and perception at a P-value of <0.05.
Results: Majority (46.1%) of the respondents had fair knowledge of EMR and 35.1% had good knowledge. All the respondents had positive attitude towards EMR while 96.9% of them had positive perceptions of EMR. Doctors were 85.0% less likely to be knowledgeable about EMR than other healthcare workers (aOR 0.150; 95% CI 0.030 - 0.748). Respondents that were computer literate were 30.0% more likely to be knowledgeable than those who were not (aOR 1.297; 95% CI 3.885 – 4.330) and those that had computer training were 13.0% more likely to be knowledgeable than those who were not (aOR 1.126; 95% CI 0.032 – 0.501).
Conclusion: Majority of respondents have at least fair knowledge and good perception regarding EMR despite all of them having good attitude towards it. Respondents' cadre, being computer literate and having computer training have a statistically significant association with respondents' knowledge on EMR.
Recommendation: EMR should be introduced in ABUTH Zaria by the hospital management as there are positive signs from the healthcare workers pointing towards its favourable and seamless implementation.