Determinant of successful implementation of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system from physicians’ perspective: Feasibility study prior to implementation

BACKGROUND: Health information technology is a solution for medical error reduction through the implementation of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine physicians’ attitudes toward the implementation of CPOE. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was started in March 2017 and completed in June 2017. The study used a questionnaire to collect data from physicians in hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences. We invited 200 physicians who were not using a CPOE system. Questionnaires were randomly distributed among physicians. In order to understand the physicians’ attitude about implementation the CPOE system, we used the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, developed by E.M. Rogers. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16.0, using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. A p value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Most of the physicians were women (n=54, 60%) and the average age of the physicians was 36.39±8.42 years. About three-quarters of the physicians (76.66%) reported that they found the CPOE system adapted to their specific professional practice. The relative advantage of the CPOE system was estimated to be 42.22% for physicians and the complexity of that was 13.33%. There was no significant relationship between Compatibility, Relative advantages and Complexity with physicians’ experience in HIS use and physicians’ degree of education (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Since the role of CPOE systems is very important in hospitals in order to reduce medication errors and to improve the quality of care, our results can be used to assist the planning and introduction of CPOE systems.