E-health Preparedness and Readiness for Change to Electronic Medical Records System at a Tertiary Health Facility in Osun State, South-West, Nigeria
Keywords:
e-Health, Electronic medical records, Organizational readiness for change, Individual readiness for change, Preparedness, Readiness, medical record's staff, Low and middle-income countriesAbstract
Introduction: An electronic medical records (EMR) system, as part of a broader e-health system, is needed to provide higher-quality health services, but its uptake is limited in low- and middle-income countries. E-health preparedness and readiness for change assessments are critical precursors of an EMR implementation success. However, little is known about the association between e-health preparedness and readiness for change to EMR system. Medical records staff were studied, being key stakeholders in its implementation success.
Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 60 medical records staff at a tertiary health facility in South-west, Nigeria, using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Organizational and individual readiness for change assessed were the outcome variables. E-health preparedness was the predictor measured by assessing the institutions' core, technological, learning and societal readiness for EMR. The respondents' digital literacy was also assessed. Descriptive statistics, correlational tests and logistic regression analysis were done, with statistical significance set at
p<0.05.
Results: Respondents' mean age was 35.4±6.9 years. Low e-health preparedness mean scores were found across the four categories assessed ranging from 3.2 to 2.9. The overall e-health preparedness mean score was 3.2±0.8. There were high organizational and individual readiness for change scores, (3.8±0.8) and (3.9±0.6) respectively, and both were significantly correlated, (rho=0.5, p=0.0001). E-health preparedness also significantly correlated with organizational readiness for change only, (rho=0.3, p=0.032). None of the factors assessed predicted organizational and individual readiness for change.
Conclusion: A strengthened e-health preparedness could significantly influence organizational readiness for change, which afterwards influences the medical records' staff readiness for change to EMR system. This could ensure ownership of the change and its successful implementation.
How to cite this article: Esan, O T,Yekeen, A A,Titiloye, DW,Akinwale, OA,Yusuf, IA, Akinyemi, PA E-health Preparedness and Readiness for Change to Electronic Medical Records System at a Tertiary Health Facility in Osun State, South-West, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Health Sciences. 2024;24:50-59.
