Electronic Health (e-health) Utilization Among Health Professionals in Ghana: A Case of Narh-Bita Hospital, Greater Accra Region.

Abstract

Background According to the World Health Organization, electronic health (eHealth) is the cost-effective and secure use of information and communications technologies in support of health and health-related fields, including health-care services, health surveillance, health literature, and health education, knowledge, and research. General Aim To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices toward electronic-health system utilization among health professionals in Ghana: A case of Narh-Bita Hospital. Methodology A cross-sectional study specifically, a quantitative method was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of health professionals towards eHealth system at the Narh-Bita Hospital, using an electronic structured questionnaire. The sample size was reached using the census method which includes all 138 health professionals at the facility. Data collected was analyzed using STATA, version 17.0. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Odds ratios reported with their 95% confidence intervals (C.I) with the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05 for all tests. Results The results from the study showed that health professionals had good knowledge of the eHealth system, a positive attitude towards the usage of the eHealth system and an overall frequent usage of the eHealth system. Aside religion, there was no statistically significant linkage between socio-demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, education, profession, work experience) eHealth knowledge, attitude and the usage of the eHealth system. Conclusion Health professionals had good knowledge and positive attitude towards the usage of the eHealth system. Knowledge, Attitude and socio-demographic factors aside religion had no linkages with the use of the eHealth system at the Narh-Bita Hospital.