Factors influencing adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii county

Abstract

Despite the benefits of adopting computerized health records systems, most healthcare facilities in Kisii County are still registering patients using pen and paper. Therefore, the study sought to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii County. The study was guided by the objectives; To establish how security and privacy issues influence the adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii County, To determine how availability of ICT infrastructure influences the adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii County, To assess how funding influences adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii County and to examine the extent to which training influences the adoption of computerized health record systems in Kisii County and how these variables influence adoption of computerized health records systems in Kisii County. The research operated on the following assumptions; the sample selected was representative of the total population of health professionals in Kisii County, the research instrument was valid and reliable in measuring the expected outcome and that the respondents were co-operative by giving information honestly and objectively to help in answering the research questions. Literature was reviewed on the platform of the study key variables and the study was grounded on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design targeting a population of 336 potential subjects from there a sample size of 100 respondents was drawn. Sample selection was done using stratified random sampling techniques. Data was collected using a questionnaire which was pretested with 33 pre-test sample respondents. Validity was ascertained through adequate coverage of research objectives, peer review and expert judgement. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. From the study findings i was able to conclude that, despite the benefits of using CHRs in healthcare practices, the adoption rate of such systems in Kisii County is still low and they meet resistance from healthcare providers. I recommended that, medical training institutions should adapt to the use of CHRs in training their students to accelerate the CHR adoption. This was to give them confidence to use the technology once they join the practicing field and the Ministry of Public Health was to come up with standardization of the development of the CHR systems so that they can easily be integrated with each other and friendly to use.