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Evaluating physicians’ perspectives on the efficiency and effectiveness of the electronic prescribing system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2021

Ahmad Raeesi Open the ORCID record for Ahmad Raeesi [Opens in a new window] ,
Reza Abbasi Open the ORCID record for Reza Abbasi [Opens in a new window]  and
Reza Khajouei Open the ORCID record for Reza Khajouei [Opens in a new window]
Ahmad Raeesi
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Health Information Sciences, Faculty of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Reza Abbasi
Affiliation:
Health Information Management Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Reza Khajouei*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Information Sciences, Faculty of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
*
Author for correspondence: Reza Khajouei, Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7616911320, Haft-bagh Highway, Kerman, Iran. E-mail: r.khajouei@kmu.ac.ir; r.khajouei@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Background

The implementation of the electronic prescribing system follows certain objectives, and users’ perspectives can contribute to understanding the efficiency and effectiveness of this system. This study aimed to evaluate physicians’ perspectives on the efficiency and effectiveness of the electronic prescribing system.

Methods

This study was conducted on all physicians using the electronic prescribing system in clinics and hospitals affiliated with the treatment deputy of the Social Security Organization (SSO) in Sistan and Baluchistan Province in Iran. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing three sections: (i) Six items related to demographic data and clinical experience, (ii) Specific questions based on a five-point Likert scale-related physicians’ perspectives about efficiency (19 questions) and effectiveness (13 questions), and (iii) Open-ended questions about the positive and negative aspects of using the electronic prescribing system.

Results

The mean and standard deviation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the electronic prescribing system were 3.68 ± 0.67 and 3.84 ± 0.65, respectively. Patient safety had the highest mean score among all dimensions (4.0 ± 0.64). Most participants (n = 55, 79%) considered the efficiency and effectiveness of this system high. More than 90 percent of the physicians (n = 63) believed that the electronic prescribing system enables a better medication prescription by providing alerts and access to patients’ medication history.

Conclusion

The findings showed that most physicians believed that the electronic prescribing system of Iran's SSO has high efficiency and effectiveness. In particular, physicians believed that using this system improves patient safety and reduces costs.

Keywords

EvaluationElectronic prescriptionElectronic prescribing systemEfficiencyEffectiveness
Type
Article Commentary
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , 2021 , e42
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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