Attitude and Perception of Patients on Information System Approach in Health Care Delivery, a Case of a Ghanaian Hospital

Abstract

The use of modern information technology (IT) offers tremendous opportunities such as reducing clinical errors and supporting health care professionals in providing care. This study was motivated by the fact that computerization continued to grow in the hospital setting, programs to assist nurses in charting and care planning was developed. However according to Braithwaite et al. (2011) little is known on the attitudes, perceptions and barriers to the use of new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions from the patients perspective. Hence the study sought to fill in the literature gap on the perspective of patients regarding the usage of health information systems in health care delivery. The study primary objective is to assess patients' perception and attitude towards Health Information System (HIS) approach in health care delivery using survey data on patients/clients of Atasemaso hospital. Convenience and strata sampling was used to collect data from 200 respondents. Findings also proved majority of awareness and understanding levels of HIS, its role in health care delivery and how communication of their results to patients influence their attitude of acceptance and adherence to treatment coupled with the disagreement that it suite only the educated clients and that the elderly are not comfortable with its usage.