African Medical Laboratory Science | 25 February 2004
Adoption Rates of Electronic Medical Records Systems in Primary Healthcare Centres Across Rwanda: An Intervention Study
K, a, b, a, g, e, n, i, M, u, h, i, r, e
Abstract
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems are increasingly being adopted in healthcare settings to improve patient care, reduce errors, and enhance administrative efficiency. However, the adoption rates of EMRs vary significantly across different regions and healthcare facilities. The study employed a mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, and observational data collection. A total of 100 primary healthcare facilities were selected for assessment, with structured questionnaires administered to assess EMR usage and barriers to adoption. Data analysis revealed that 65% of the sampled primary healthcare centres have implemented at least one type of EMR system, with a notable trend towards increased use in urban areas compared to rural settings (p<0.05). Key challenges identified included insufficient technical support and inadequate training for staff. The study concludes that while significant progress has been made in Rwanda's primary healthcare sector regarding EMR adoption, continued efforts are required to address remaining barriers effectively. Healthcare policymakers should prioritise providing ongoing technical support and comprehensive training programmes to enhance the functionality and accessibility of EMRs within primary care settings. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.