Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Electronic Health Records In Public Health Facilities In Kisumu County, Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the research study was to determine the factors influencing the adoption of electronic health records in public health facilities in Kisumu County. Methodology: The study adopted was cross-sectional design where it targeted 12 public hospitals with a sample size of 132 health care workers. Out of 132 health care workers who were sampled out from 12 public health facilities, 108 consented to take part in the study. Questionnaires with both structured and semi-structured questions were administered. Qualitative data was recorded, transcribed, coded then analyzed while quantitative data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data while inferential statistics applied Chi-square to test for the association between the dependent and independent variables. A p value which was less or equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study revealed that there was a significant statistical relationship between techno-organizational factors and existing EHR levels; Inadequate & non-functional EHR related infrastructure, weak internet connectivity and unstable power supply were the key technological factors while lack of adequate financial resources, inadequate training support by the hospital management, inadequate technical expertise, non-user involvement and lack of harmonized standard legal enforcement were the major organizational factors that contributed to low rate of EHR adoption. Individual factors had the least influence towards low rate of adoption. Two existing levels of EHR implementation were established; fully implemented and not implemented. Majority of the health facilities had not adopted the use of EHR system hence belonged to "˜not implemented level'. Therefore, adoption of EHR has not yet attained its maximum potential as it is still low and unevenly effected across public hospitals. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that in a move towards universal health coverage, it is necessary for health facilities to streamline the techno-organizational structures that strengthen the adoption of health system projects like EHR towards the provision of improved and quality health services.