Perceived barriers to Electronic Health Record Use Among Registered General Nurses in a District Hospital in Northern Ghana: A qualitative Study

BackgroundThe use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes is rapidly gaining grounds in low- and middle- income countries. However, registered general nurses who constitute the majority of end-users often face unresolved challenges in their use. AimTo explore the perceived barriers encountered by registered general nurses in the use of EHRs in providing nursing care in a district hospital in Northern Ghana.MethodsThe study employed a qualitative descriptive design. A purposive sampling technique supported by solicitation was used to recruit 21 registered general nurses with at least one year working experience in direct patient care. Face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Atlas.ti in line with Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework.FindingsFour main overarching themes emerged: (1) Infrastructure, resource, and technical constraints, (2) Human capacity and training gaps, (3) Workflow, workload pressures, and ethical concerns, and (4) Organizational support, motivation, and perceived benefits.ConclusionNurses recognized the potential of the use of EHRs in the setting, but were grossly restricted by infrastructural deficits, insufficient training, system interface and usability issues, and poor organizational support. Addressing these barriers through sustained investment in alternate power supply and hardware, continuous competency-based training, user-centered system redesign, and clear policy directives holds promise for optimizing EHR use and realizing its full benefits for patient care outcomes.