Table of Contents Chapter 1o89fz076s0
Table of Contents Chapter 1o89fz076s0
Table of Contents Chapter 1o89fz076s0
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LITERATURE REVIEWED
2.1 Introduction 6
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 25
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction 31
5.1 Summary 31
5.2 Conclusion 32
5.3 Recommendation 32
References 34
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is growing rapidly in Nigeria and has
had a great effect on businesses and individuals. We can easily say ICT has not penetrated
everywhere in the society which is understandable due to many reasons. Without any doubt
Internet is the fastest growing communication technology today. Nigeria health sector has being
disintegrating for years and have suffered due to negligence. One can easily say keeping records
of an institution like the health sector is very important and crucial to the development of the
sector as well as the patients. The standardized electronic health record (EHR) is rapidly
replacing paper documentation of health care activities in hospitals.
The use of electronic health records (EHR) in the health care industry especially
secondary health care tier is becoming the standard. A growing number of health care
organisations are introducing and utilizing electronic systems to store patients’ information (De
Veer and Francke, 2010). Thus facilitating communication between health information
professional and other care providers and between health information professional and patients
(Gusen, et,al., 2016). The electronic health record (EHR) is rapidly replacing paper
documentation of health care activities in hospitals across the world (Estes, Johnson and
Harrahill 2010) and its adoption is a major reform component and cost saving tool. The intent of
initiating computerized documentation systems is to improve efficiency, safety and quality of
patient care (Jha et al., 2009).
Subsequently, the National Council on Health in August 2013 approved the deployment
of EHRs in all thirty six states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory
(Adeleke, et al. 2015). Furthermore, in pursuance of plans to ensure Universal Health Coverage
for all citizens by the year 2020 through leverage on the vast potentials of ICT, the FMoH
through her National Health ICT Strategic Framework 2015-2020 intends to scale-up ICT
infrastructure in all health facilities across the country to ensure they are in step with Health ICT
and health system priorities (FMoH 2016).
Since documentation plays a major role in delivering health care, and despite the many
benefits of EHR implementation, its results will not be effective unless it is associated with
acceptance from health information manager using the technology. Acceptability of electronic
health records, even in developed countries with very sophisticated health-care systems, has been
uneven. Laramee, et al., (2012) compared inpatient nurses’ attitudes at three different time
periods: before EHR implementation, 6 months after implementation, and 18 months after
implementation. The authors found that preimplementation attitudes were positive, while at 6
months, the attitudes were less positive but became more positive again by 18 months.
Preimplementation, nurses were excited because they had high expectations that the EHR would
make their jobs easier and save time. At 6 months, the nurses went through a period of
frustration due to the gap between their expectations for the EHR and the reality of the actual
experience. By 18 months, the nurses had a longer time to accept the EHR and better appreciated
its advantages and disadvantages.
Ammenwerth, et al. (2003) found similar results after comparing attitudes of nurses
before implementation of the EHR, and at 3 and 9 months after implementation. Kritsonis
(2004–2005) suggested, according to Lewin’s theory, that when nurses had a sufficient amount
of time to learn the EHR, they would eventually accept it. This is exactly what happened in both
Laramee’s and Ammenwerth’s studies. In order for EHR usage to be effective, health
information manager must be aware of all the advantages that come with it to increase their
willingness to use it.
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the availability and the use of electronic health
records in secondary tier health facilities using General Hospital Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State as a
case study. The specific objectives are to:
ascertain knowledge of the EHR system that health information management professionals in a
Nigerian secondary healthcare facility have
How much knowledge of the EHR system do the healthcare professionals in a Nigerian
secondary healthcare facility have?
What are the attitudes of health information management professionals on electronic health
records in General Hospital Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State.
How do information management professional in General Hospital Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
utilize electronic health records
The study can guide system developers and healthcare managers in the design and
implementation of EHR systems that are sustainable vis-a-vis the peculiarities of Nigerian
Secondary Healthcare facilities, most of which are in sub-urban towns in Nigeria often plagued
by various infrastructural challenges like inadequate power supply, inadequate qualified
medical personnel, poor road network and poor internet access among other things.
As efforts are currently underway by the FMoH to scale-up ICT infrastructure in all health
facilities, findings from this study may be valuable for policy formulation and implementation
of electronic health records. It will also contribute to existing knowledge on issues associated
with deployment and implementation of electronic health records in developing countries.