The Relationship Between Usage of Electronic Health Record (HER) and The Work, Personal Burnout Among Healthcare Providers, KSA

Abstract

Background: The Saudi Ministry of Health has invested significant resources in implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system to fully automate hospitals and provide coordinated care delivery. Electronic health records (EHRs) are essential tools for accurate and efficient patient record management. However, the usage of EHRs can cause tremendous load and fatigue for healthcare providers, thereby impacting the quality of treatment they give.
The study aims to assess burnout among healthcare personnel using electronic health records (EHRs) in Saudi Arabian hospitals and identify critical factors contributing to burnout. Methods:descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted. A valid and reliable questionnaire was distributed to healthcare providers in Saudi Arabian hospitals to measure their burnout levels associated with EHR usage. Data was collected via convenience sampling in three government hospitals over a seven month period. A standardized EHR system efficacy assessment was administered to primary health care practitioners (specialists, medical officers, and nurses) throughout medical education programs.Data was analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling for hypothesis testing.
Results: The study found that using electronic health records (EHRs) can lead to burnout among healthcare providers, potentially compromising patient care quality. Several characteristics, including living location, age, job, and year of experience, were found to be strongly connected to personal burnout among healthcare professionals. However, only age had a significant impact on work-related burnout. Working hours and patient volume have a considerable impact on EHR-related burnout among healthcare providers.
Conclusion:Organizational leaders and researchers should examine EMR use as a risk factor for HCP burnout.As EMRs become more prevalent in clinical settings, practitioners must trust that they are a valuable tool rather than a nuisance to be used ineffectively.Effective interventions are required to address time spent on EMRs, design, and organizational support for clinicians and staff.