Factors Affecting Utilization of Electronic Health Information System in Delivery of Health Services in Anaka Hospital, Nwoya District.

Abstract

Introduction The electronic health information system is a key component of medical informatics that is increasingly being utilized in industrialized nations to improve health care. There is limited information on use of EHI system. The study is designed to investigate and analyze the factors affecting utilization of Electronic Health Information System in service provision at Anaka Hospital Nwoya District. Objective The main objective was to establish factors affecting utilization of electronic health information system in delivery of health care services in Anaka hospital. Methodology This study adopted a qualitative research paradigm. The study was conducted at Anaka hospital in Nwoya district. Data was collected from 215respondents using semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview guide, and data was analyzed using SPSS 16 and a descriptive analysis was carried out. Findings Findings of the study revealed that majority of respondents were aged between 31-40years and most 119 being males.148/215 of health workers did not know how EHI system is operated, while 150 strongly agreed that EHI was very important and114 stated that there was capacity building to equip and utilize EHI system in the hospital. According to the study, 94.0% of respondents had ever heard about EHI system. However, 5.1% of them stated that they had never heard of EHI system. And this showed a knowledge gap among some health workers. The utilization of electronic health information was affected by many factors but from those studied, all health facility factors were found to have greater significance influence at P<0.000. The major factors that affected utilization of EHI system were noted as; lack of training, inadequate knowledge and lack of power supply and most the departments lacked computers. Conclusion From the findings it is concluded that the utilization of EHI system is still inadequate. The majority of health workers had only heard about EHI system and many of respondents never knew how EHI system was operated and had not had any training on use of EHI system, implying that EHI system was not being used yet it had a significant role in health care delivery. Recommendations Based on the above issues, the study recommends that, there is need for collective efforts by hospital administrator, health, workers and government to put more effort towards EHI system through, regular seminars and workshops to train staff on EHI system, purchasing of more computers to the hospital. There is also need to establish electronic health information at all departments in the hospital. And the government should take the imitative to recognize and include all practitioners in EHI system. And the administration should lobby for purchase of more computers in the hospital.