Technological Factors and Electronic Health Record Adoption at De-Martino Public Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia

The adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has become an important component of healthcare digital transformation because of the potential of electronic systems to improve the availability, accuracy, accessibility, and management of patient information. However, successful EHR adoption in resource-constrained healthcare environments depends considerably on the technological conditions supporting the system. This study investigated the role of technological factors in the adoption of Electronic Health Records at De-Martino Public Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. The study focused on three technological dimensions: technological infrastructure, EHR system quality, and ease of use of the EHR system. The study adopted a positivist philosophy and a descriptive research design. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 183 respondents comprising healthcare workers and other relevant hospital personnel. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between technological factors and EHR adoption. The findings indicated that respondents generally perceived technological factors as favorable, with a mean technological-factor score of 3.73 on a five-point Likert scale. The findings further showed a very strong and statistically significant positive relationship between technological factors and EHR adoption (r = 0.979, p < 0.001). Regression analysis established that technological factors explained 95.9% of the variation in EHR adoption (R² = 0.959), while the regression model was statistically significant (F = 4182.618, p < 0.001). The technological-factor coefficient was also positive and statistically significant (B = 1.083, Beta = 0.979, p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that technological readiness is a critical determinant of EHR adoption at De-Martino Public Hospital. The study concludes that investment in reliable technological infrastructure, high-quality EHR systems, interoperability, system reliability, and user-friendly interfaces is essential for strengthening EHR adoption. The findings have implications for hospital management, health policymakers, technology providers, and healthcare professionals seeking to advance digital health transformation in Somalia.

Electronic Health Records, technological factors, technological infrastructure, system quality

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