Abstract
Family medicine practices (FMPs) make the basis for the Croatian health care system. Use of electronic health record (EHR) software is mandatory and it plays an important role in running these practices, but important functional features still remain uneven and largely left to the will of the software developers. The objective of this study was to develop a novel and comprehensive model for functional evaluation of the EHR software in FMPs, based on current world standards, models and projects, as well as on actual user satisfaction and requirements. Based on previous theoretical and experimental research in this area, we made the initial framework model consisting of six basic categories as a base for online survey questionnaire. Family doctors assessed perceived software quality by using a five-point Likert-type scale. Using exploratory factor analysis and appropriate statistical methods over the collected data, the final optimal structure of the novel model was formed. Special attention was focused on the validity and quality of the novel model. The online survey collected a total of 384 cases. The obtained results indicate both the quality of the assessed software and the quality in use of the novel model. The intense ergonomic orientation of the novel measurement model was particularly emphasised. The resulting novel model is multiple validated, comprehensive and universal. It could be used to assess the user-perceived quality of almost all forms of the ambulatory EHR software and therefore useful to all stakeholders in this area of the health care informatisation.
Highlights
Medicine practices (FMPs) make the basis for the health care systems in numerous countries, including the Croatian health care system as well
We assumed that during the past five years of mandatory use of electronic health record (EHR) software, Croatian family doctor (FD) have mastered the use of information technology in daily operations, have become aware of the necessity of having an advanced and functional software support used in everyday work, and can recognise the needs that are not being met at the present stage of the development of this type of software
We found that in accordance with the set objective, it is possible to realise a novel model for the assessment of the inbuilt functionalities of the EHR software in Family medicine practices (FMPs), which is based on user satisfaction
Summary
Medicine practices (FMPs) make the basis for the health care systems in numerous countries, including the Croatian health care system as well. Prominent are American certification programs[5,6] and European framework model for certification and quality assessment of the EHR systems.[7] due to the fact that this area is extremely fast changing, a need for creating a novel model for evaluation of the quality of EHR software used in FMPs has arisen. It would include modern world achievements as well as the uniqueness of the Croatian health care system and FDs’ requirements. It could be used to assess the user-perceived quality of almost all forms of the ambulatory EHR software and useful to all stakeholders in this area of the health care informatisation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
