The Factors Contributing to Physicians’ Current Use of and Satisfaction With Electronic Health Records in Kuwait’s Public Health Care: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Background Electronic health record (EHR) has emerged as a backbone health care organization that aims to integrate health care records and automate clinical workflow. With the adoption of the eHealth care system, health information communication technologies and EHRs are offering significant health care advantages in the form of error reduction, improved communication, and patient satisfaction. Objective This study aimed to (1) investigate factors associated with physicians’ EHR adoption status and prevalence of EHRs in Kuwait and (2) identify factors predicting physician satisfaction with EHRs in public hospitals in Kuwait. Methods This study was conducted at Kuwait’s public Al-Jahra hospital from May to September 2019, using quantitative research methods. Primary data were gathered via questionnaires distributed among 295 physicians recruited using convenience sampling. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression, adjusted for demographics. Results Results of the study revealed that the controlled variable of gender (β=–.197; P=.02) along with explanatory variables, such as training quality (β=.068; P=.005), perception of barriers (β=–.107; P=.04), and effect on physician (β=.521; P<.001) have a significant statistical relationship with physicians’ EHR adoption status. Furthermore, findings also suggested that controlled variables of gender (β=–.193; P=.02), education (β=–.164; P=.03), effect on physician (β=.417; P<.001), and level of ease of use (β=.254; P<.001) are significant predictors of the degree of physician satisfaction with the EHR system. Conclusions The findings of this study had significant managerial and practical implications for creating an inductive environment for the acceptance of EHR systems across a broad spectrum of health care system in Kuwait.