Exploring the awareness of public health professionals about electronic health records during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Electronic health records (E.H.R.s) are expected to maximize public health outcomes, as they can be a valuable tool to make informed decisions and promote health surveillance. It has been widely utilized in several countries. However, limited evidence has been reported regarding its progress and effectiveness for public health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Aims: This study aimed to identify the most relevant public health functions of E.H.R.s that are necessary for providers to deliver the best public health measures. It also examined the current status of public health-integrated E.H.R.s. It suggested and highlighted the recommendations that E.H.R.s could implement in the future to improve the quality of public health in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Fifty-two certified public health specialists in Saudi Arabia received an electronic survey through professional and social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn. The survey was hosted on Google Docs. The invitation included a description of the survey, and the participants were asked to respond to five open-ended questions on the basis of their field experience as public health specialists in Saudi Arabia. Responses were analyzed using theme-based qualitative analysis.

Results: The utilization of E.H.R.s for public health in the Kingdom is still in its infancy and needs much support. The information currently available in E.H.R.s that was most relevant to public health specialists was immunization and infectious disease reporting.

Conclusion: This study identified several gaps, such as the segmented use of E.H.R.s in different settings in Saudi Arabia, indicating a great need for E.H.R. equality and interoperability, as well as the need for public health specialists to have a deeper knowledge of the utilization, current developments, and emerging patterns and trends of E.H.R.s.