Effect of Electronic Health Records on Patient Satisfaction and Waiting Time at Selected Hospitals, in Addis Ababa

Background: Electronic health records provide a great potential for improving the delivery of health services and decision-making abilities for all hospital stakeholders and for prudent management of health care resources.The main objective was to assess the effect of EHR on patient satisfaction and waiting time at Selected Hospitals, Addis Ababa.Methods: An institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample size was calculated using a double population-proportion formula, which comprised 184. Statement to confirm that all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. After receiving ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics Review Board and the Addis Ababa Health Bureau IRB, formal letters were written to Yekatit12 Hospital and Menelik II Referral Hospital.Written consent was taken for participants. Epidata V3.1 and SPSS software V25 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the presence and degree of association between dependent and independent variables. Statistically significant variables were declared using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.Result: The mean waiting time at Yekatit 12 HMC was 60.2 ± 48.2 minutes and 82 ± 56.8 minutes at Menelik. Similarly, 74 (83.1%) at Yekatit 12 HMC and 31.8% at Menelik II Referral Hospital were satisfied with the service. Eye contact, clear communication, accessibility of the service, explanations of the medical procedures, involving patients in clinical decisions regarding their health care, and active listening to their opinions and questions had statistical significance.Conclusion: Though patient satisfaction is not limited to those variables, overall client satisfaction and waiting time at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College were higher than those at Menelik II Referral Hospital, that could be attributable to the installation of EHR. As a result, the federal MOH and the respective RHBs should implement EHR in all health-care facilities.