Overall assessment of the Electronic Health Record in the General Health System of Cyprus

Abstract

ntroduction: The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a technological tool of Electronic Health, which is a strategic priority in health systems internationally. Since 2019, Cyprus has universally implemented the EHR as part of its General Health System (GHS). Aim: The first overall assessment of the EHR in the GHS of Cyprus through the opinions and attitudes of its users, taking into account their demographic characteristics. Material and Method: Between October and December 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the opinions and attitudes of EHR users using an electronic self-report questionnaire. 429 personal and outpatient doctors from all Cypriot Provinces participated in the survey. In the context of the research, all ethical and ethical principles were observed. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 26.0, and the two-sided level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: The mean score of the scale "Global Evaluation of the EHR" is 55.5/100, a value indicating a moderate degree of general evaluation of the EHR by the users. Half of the participants scored between 36.1/100 and 77.8/100. The younger the age (p < 0.001), the more positive the degree of global evaluation of the EHR by the users. The shorter the work experience (p<0.001), the more positive is the degree of global evaluation of the EHR by the users. The greater the familiarity with the use of PC and ICT (p<0.001), the more positive is the degree of global evaluation of the EHR by the users. The greater the education/training, the more positive is the degree of overall evaluation of the EHR by the users. The greater the familiarity with the use of the EHR (p<0.001), the more positive is the degree of global evaluation of the EHR by the users. The greater the support from the Health Insurance Organization of Cyprus (p<0.001), the more positive is the degree of global evaluation of the EHR by the users. Conclusions: In order to fulfill the strategic goals of Cyprus for eHealth, within the European framework health policymakers should proceed with improvement interventions in the context of the implementation of EHR in the GHS. User education and support and equal access for all other health professionals are essential components. Finally, new studies must follow in the scientific field under.