Determinants of Health Information Systems Usability in Public Hospitals in Kenya

Public hospitals in Kenya are rolling out health information systems (HIS), such as Kenya Electronic Medical Records (KenyaEMR) and the District Health Information System (DHIS2), to support the national government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) objectives. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) improves transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in service delivery. This study sought to assess the usability of digital health information systems and identify any gaps in the health information systems lifecycle in public hospitals in Kenya. The researcher purposively selected public hospitals in Migori County due to time and financial constraints. The study adopted a survey design, using questionnaires as the data collection instrument. A drop-and-pick approach was used, with 35 questionnaires circulated and 30 completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 85.71%. The study used a five-point Likert scale with 40 statements on HIS use in the current facility environment. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS software. The findings indicate that the top three consumers of health information systems data in public hospitals in Kenya are the health records officers (HROs) at 26.7%, the outpatient department at 20.0%, and the revenue department at 13.3%. According to stakeholders, the most pressing issue is compatibility between systems and physicians’ tasks.