Usability evaluation of electronic health records at the trauma and emergency directorates at the Komfo Anokye teaching hospital in the Ashanti region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) are currently gaining popularity in emerging economies because they provide options for exchanging patient data, increasing operational efficiency, and improving patient outcomes. This study examines how service providers at Ghana's Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital adopt and use an electronic health records (EHRs) system. The emphasis is on identifying factors impacting adoption and the problems that healthcare personnel encounter in efficiently using the EHRs system. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional technique was utilised to collect data from 234 trauma and emergency department staff members via standardised questionnaires. The participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. The Pearson Chi-square Test was used to examine the relationship between respondents' acceptability and use of EHRs. Results: The study discovered that a sizable number of respondents (86.8%) embraced and actively used the EHRs system. However, other issues were noted, including insufficient system training and malfunctions (35.9%), power outages (18.8%), privacy concerns (9.4%), and insufficient maintenance (4.7%). The respondents' comfortability in using the electronic health record system (X2=11.30, p=0.001), system dependability (X2=30.74, p=0.0001), and EHR's ability to reduce patient waiting time (X2=14.39, p=0.0001) were all strongly associated with their degree of satisfaction with the system. Furthermore, respondents who said elects increase patient care (X2= 75.59, p = 0.0001) and income creation (X2= 8.48, p = 0.004), which is related to the acceptability of the electronic health records system. Conclusion: The study revealed that comfort, reliability, and improved care quality all had an impact on the EHRs system's acceptability and utilization. Challenges, including equipment malfunctions and power outages, were found. Continuous professional training was emphasized as a means of increasing employee confidence, as did the construction of a power backup system to combat disruptions. Patient data privacy was highlighted. In conclusion, this study highlights the relevance of EHRs system adoption and usability in healthcare. While the benefits are obvious, addressing obstacles through training, technical support, and infrastructure improvements is critical for increasing system effectiveness.