Nurses’ Attitudes and Factors Affecting Use of Electronic Health Record in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

(1) Background: Nurses’ attitudes toward electronic health records (EHRs) is a very valuable issue that needs to be evaluated, understood, and considered one of the main factors that can lead to its improvement or handicap its implementation. This study aimed to assess nurses’ attitudes toward EHRs and associated factors that affect the implementation of EHRs in different hospitals in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was utilized to collect data from 297 nurses working in public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Ha’il Province from January to May 2023. Data were collected using the Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Computerization questionnaire and a sociodemographic and work-related characteristics sheet. (3) Results: Most of the participants’ attitude scores (81.1%, n = 241) were more than or equal to 60, representing positive attitudes, whereas 18.9% (n = 56) of the nurses’ scores were less than 60, which is interpreted as negative attitudes. There was a significant relationship between nurses’ attitudes toward EHRs and a participants’ sex, where males had a more positive attitude than females (p < 0.001). Particularly, young nurses and those who had previous computer experience had a more positive attitude than older nurses and those who had no computer experience (p = 0.044 and < 0.001, respectively). Saudi nurses holding a master’s degree had significantly more positive attitudes toward EHRs than non-Saudi nurses holding a bachelor’s or diploma degree (p = 0.007 and 0.048, respectively). Nurses with less experience (less than five years) in the nursing field had a significantly positive attitude. Multiple linear regression showed that sex (p = 0.038), level of education (p = 0.001), and previous computer experience (p < 0.001) were independent factors of nurses’ knowledge of EHRs. (4) Conclusion: The majority of nurses had positive overall attitudes toward using EHRs. Nurses who are Saudi nationals, male, younger, have previous computer experience, and have less than five years of experience had a more positive attitude toward EHRs than nurses who are non-Saudi, female, older, have no computer experience, have bachelor’s or diploma degree, and have less than five years of experience, respectively. Sex, education level, and previous computer experience were independent factors of nurses’ knowledge of EHRs.

Factors Influencing Electronic Health Record Workflow Integration Among Nurses in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study

“…A systematic review of 55 articles revealed that there were more facilitators (e.g., productivity/efficiency, quality and data management, surveillance, preventive care) than barriers (e.g., missing data, no standards, productivity loss, overly complex technology) to using EHR to support public health, implying a certain level of use and acceptance of EHR ( Kruse et al, 2018 ). In the US, a descriptive cross-sectional study among nurses from nursing informatics communities (the American Medical Informatics Association and the Healthcare Information and Management System Society) revealed similar findings that nurses used EHR as part of their job several times a day ( Alrasheeday et al, 2023 ; Gartrell et al, 2015 ; Holmes et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Furthermore, factors such as healthcare personnel characteristics (e.g., age, gender, leadership role), financial resources, perceived usefulness, and healthcare setting size influence HER deployment ( Alzghaibi & Hutchings, 2022 ). Nurses’ attitudes also impact EHR system utilization ( Alrasheeday et al, 2023 ). A study by Alrasheeday et al (2023) revealed that 81.1% of nurses held a positive attitude toward her use, while 18.9% expressed negativity.…”

“…Nurses’ attitudes also impact EHR system utilization ( Alrasheeday et al, 2023 ). A study by Alrasheeday et al (2023) revealed that 81.1% of nurses held a positive attitude toward her use, while 18.9% expressed negativity. Investigating how nurses’ attitudes influence her use is essential in understanding its adoption.…”