Users’ opinions on the use of electronic health records at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Ghana: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: The use of technology in healthcare to manage patient records, guide diagnosis, and make referrals is termed electronic healthcare. An electronic health record system called Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) was implemented in 2021 at Bolgatanga Regional Hospital (BRH). This study evaluated the opinion of users on the use of LHIMS among healthcare workers, focusing on the extent to which its use has enhanced the main dimensions of clinical work. METHOD: A qualitative research design was employed to explore healthcare providers' experiences with the LHIMS. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit eleven (11) participants comprising nurses and doctors who had at least two years of experience using the LHIMS. An interview guide was used to facilitate in-depth, face-to-face interviews with all participants. RESULTS: Healthcare providers expressed overall satisfaction with LHIMS, citing its time-saving features, efficiency, data security, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. Users reported receiving support from IT personnel, experienced colleagues, and stable network systems; however, challenges included inadequate staff training, documentation difficulties among nurse midwives, limited computer availability, insufficient user manuals, and frequent power interruptions. CONCLUSION: The study found that most LHIMS users were satisfied with the system, particularly its user-friendly interface and efficiency in managing and synchronizing patient data. To enhance system performance and sustain user satisfaction, the hospital should ensure uninterrupted power supply, provide mandatory training for new staff, integrate a comprehensive user manual into the LHIMS platform, and supply adequate computer resources to support effective use.