Beyond the Impact of Electronic Health Record Execution Issues on its Utilization: Pragmatic Approaches

Abstract

Abstract The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a repository for storing health data and a network for exchanging these data. Today, the EHR is one of the key elements in the health system and has brought many benefits. These benefits reach their maximum when the system is properly executed and used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Iranian EHR (SEPAS) execution issues on its utilization. This was a quantitative-analytical study conducted in 2022. The settings of the study were 28 hospitals in Iran. The participants (n = 70) included staff from discharge, HIM, and IT departments. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The study results indicated that financial factors (2.36 ± 1.15) have the most effect on the execution of SEPAS. Also, users' workload (3.76 ± 1.19) had the most effect on the utilization rate. In addition, the results showed that there is a correlation between technical, user-related, organizational, financial, and managerial factors with utilization factors (P < 0.05). Also, the linear-regression results showed that technical, organizational, and financial factors had positive effects and aligned with utilization factors (P < 0.05). SEPAS, after the initial stages, is now on the growth path and development. For better execution of this system and to increase the utilization capacity, attention should be paid to the factors affecting the execution and utilization of the system. The factors raised in this study can be important for decision and policy-making in this area, especially for developing countries.