Attitudes of health professionals towards electronic health records in primary health care settings: a questionnaire survey

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of health professionals towards electronic health records (EHRs) in primary health care settings in Turkey. Methods: A survey was administered to 754 health professionals working in Family Health Centres (FHCs) in seven districts in Istanbul, Turkey. The survey was developed based on extensive literature review, and consisted of 33 statements rated on a five-point Likert-scale. Results: A total of 325 completed questionnaires were received, representing a 43% response rate, with 97% of respondents being satisfied with the EHR system in the FHCs. There were significant differences between health professional groups (physicians and nurses/midwives) in their perceptions of EHRs decreasing paper-based records, data security in EHRs, and costs of EHRs (p<0.05). Narrative responses indicated ongoing needs in software development, further support of nursing documentation and training. Conclusions: Overall positive attitudes towards EHRs among primary care health professionals in Turkey suggest strong acceptance and use. Recommendations based on the findings include EHR technology refinements, improved clinical documentation using standardized terminologies, and health professional-informed EHR training.