A Electronic Information Sources Access and Use for Healthcare Services in Governmental and Non-Governmental Hospitals of Western Oromia, Ethiopia Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Access to and use of electronic information sources for clinical decision is the key tothe attainment of health related sustainable goals. Therefore, this study was to assess ElectronicInformation Sources (EIS) access and use for healthcare service among hospitals of Western Oromia,Ethiopia, 2013.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study design with quantitative and qualitative datacollection methods was employed. Study subjects were selected by using simple random samplingtechnique. Quantitative data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Moreover, multiplelogistic regression was fitted to identify independent predictors, and qualitative data were transcribed andanalyzed thematically.RESULTS: A total of 590 health professionals were participated in the study with response rate of 95%.Forty-two percent of health professionals had used Electronic Information Sources (EIS). Out of them,more than half used to get latest health information. About three-fourth of health professionals had noformal training on how to use EIS. Moreover, there is a significant association between use of electronicinformation source and information literacy training, computer literacy level, access to internetconnection and access to computers.CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was determined that more than half of health professionals in thestudy area were not using EIS. Information literacy training, self-stated computer literacy level, access tointernet connection and access to computers with in hospitals were found to be statistically significantfactors affecting use of EIS.