Title: Implementing electronic healthcare record in a public health facility in Nigeria: awareness, acceptance and concerns among critical stakeholders

Authors: Daprim Samuel Ogaji; Chinelo Ezinwanne Anyanwu

Addresses: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria; Africa Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt, Tetfund 7-in-1 Building, Opposite the Senate Building, Choba, 500102, Nigeria ' Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria

Abstract: This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated staff and patient awareness, preferences and concerns for EHR using a structured questionnaire. More of the staff were females (52.5%), nurses (48%) with ≤ 5 years of experience (71.4%). More staff (56.3%) than patient (38.9%) possesses at least average computer skills. Most patients were aware (87.2%), willing to accept (94.6%) and willing to have their personal health records (80.6%) in the EHR. Tendency to be anxious, less cautious, possibility of data security breaches as well as having poor understanding of the contents on their electronic records were prominent concerns of patients. Staff major concerns were related to data security and the technical aspects of the EHR implementation. The reported positive attitude of staff and patients underscore the facility's readiness for deployment of EHR. Their preferences and concerns should however be considered in the implementation of the EHR in the hospital.

Keywords: awareness; acceptance; uptake; stakeholders; patients; staff; e-health; electronic health record; EHR; University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; UPTH; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2021.117830

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2021 Vol.11 No.4, pp.364 - 377

Received: 11 Mar 2020
Accepted: 13 Nov 2020
Published online: 27 Sep 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article