Aims and objectives: To find out computer literacy, facilities, usage of electronic medical record (EMR) in indoor/outdoor functions, relationship between usage age/sex/department/position, correlation between usage/non usage and availability/ non-availability, problems encountered, attitude, and medical hazards related to computer usage in one of the flagship hospitals of ESIC.
Methods: Questionnaire prepared using the available literature was validated by 5 experts. There were total 62 questions to evaluate the demographics, knowledge of computer, usage in indoor/outdoor patients, attitude, satisfaction and the computer hazards. The response rate was 73.9 i.e. 85/115 retuned the questionnaire.
Results: The missing data entry was 0.1% (102/5185). Of 85 respondents (37 men & 48 women) 50 belonged to <35, 12 >50 and 20 in 35-50 age group. 3 of them did not give age. The computer literacy was 87.05 % (74/85). 90.58 % and 78.82% felt that there were adequate computers in out patient department (OPD) and wards respectively. 29/85 (34.1%) respondents used EMR for at least one of the function >75% of times in the OPD. About indoor usage, only two used it daily and 7 used it weekly. Usage/non-usage was not related to availability/non-availability. The commonest problem encountered was slow network (90.5%), followed by busy OPD (83.3%), improper training (67%) program not friendly (66%) and inability to give personal attention (57.6%). 63/85 (74.1%) and 65/85 (76.5%) felt that data will be useful for research and patients respectively. 20/85 (23.5%) had computer related ailment of which eye strain was the commonest (18.8%). No one required medical leave.
Conclusions: The overall knowledge is high and availability is fair. The usage is fair for OPD and poor for indoor functions. The main deterrents are slow speed and lack of time. Improving training may increase the usage. The attitude/intent towards EMR is good as majority feel that data will be useful. There were no significant medical hazards related to computers.