Assessing Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Electronic Health Record Implementation in Government-Owned Hospitals in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria
TL;DR
The findings indicate that while awareness and general acceptance of EHR systems are high, gaps in knowledge and variations across professional groups may limit optimal utilisation of EHR systems.
Abstract
The use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has been widely promoted as a means of improving healthcare delivery, yet their effective utilisation depends largely on the readiness and perspectives of healthcare workers. In Calabar Metropolis, limited evidence exists on how healthcare professionals understand and respond to EHR systems in routine practice. This study therefore assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perception of healthcare workers towards Electronic Health Records in Government-Owned Hospitals in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study employed a facility-based cross-sectional design among healthcare professionals across major professional groups. Data were collected using a structured, self administered questionnaire, and a multistage sampling approach was used to ensure adequate representation across staff categories. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The mean age of respondents was 39.27 ± 0.79 years, with 63.06% being female and 79.94% employed full-time. Overall, respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness of EHR concepts and functionalities. However, only 16.47% had good knowledge, while 44.01% had poor knowledge. Attitude and perception levels were largely moderate, with 65.57% and 61.98% of respondents demonstrating moderate attitude and perception, respectively. Medical Laboratory Scientists recorded significantly lower knowledge scores compared with doctors (β = -12.55, 95% CI: -19.53 to -5.58, p < 0.001). Nurses recorded significantly lower attitude scores compared with doctors (β = -15.05, 95% CI: -20.76 to -9.34, p < 0.001). Respondents with more than five years of service had significantly higher attitude scores (β = 14.18, 95% CI: 10.00 to 18.35, p < 0.001). Additionally, male respondents had significantly lower perception scores compared with females (β = -6.66, 95% CI: -10.21 to -3.11, p < 0.001). The findings indicate that while awareness and general acceptance of EHR systems are high, gaps in knowledge and variations across professional groups may limit optimal utilisation. Strengthening continuous training, improving system exposure, and ensuring supportive institutional environments are essential for enhancing effective use of EHR in public healthcare facilities.