CHALLENGES FACED BY NURSES DURING ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM IN THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Electronic Health Records (EHR) are introduced to improve efficiency, accuracy, and coordination in healthcare. However, their adoption poses challenges for nurses, who are central to patient care and documentation. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2024 at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. Using Slovin’s formula, 67 nurses were sampled from 80 staff nurses in the emergency department through convenient simple random sampling. Data were collected on demographic factors, training, and perceptions of EHR-related challenges. Results: Among 66 respondents, most were aged 25–30 years (90.9%) with 7–9 years of experience (95.5%). Nurses identified barriers including insufficient training, workload, limited technical support, and decreased patient interaction. Pearson correlation showed a very weak positive relationship (r = 0.062) between age and EHR challenges, suggesting age was not significant. Training, experience, and institutional support emerged as more critical factors. Conclusion: EHR adoption requires tailored training, supportive leadership, and integration into nursing workflows to enhance care quality.