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. 2025 May 19;25(1):719.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12877-5.

Perceived benefits and barriers of medical doctors regarding electronic medical record systems in an Indian private-sector healthcare facility

Hager Saleh  1 , Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg  1 , Megha Sharma  2   3
Affiliations

Perceived benefits and barriers of medical doctors regarding electronic medical record systems in an Indian private-sector healthcare facility

Hager Saleh et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Background: Electronic medical record systems (EMRS) have transformed healthcare by improving quality, efficiency, and safety through centralized patient data and streamlined workflows. Challenges such as budget constraints and staff resistance hinder its adoption, particularly in resource-limited settings like India; however, they have not been investigated thoroughly. The objective of our study is to explore the benefits and barriers perceived by medical doctors in implementing EMRS in an Indian private-sector hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a private hospital in a rural area of the Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh, India. All 130 doctors pursuing postgraduate studies were invited to participate in person using a convenience sampling method. Responses from 105 doctors were received using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey captured participants' attitudes, perceived benefits, and barriers to EMRS implementation in the facility. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results: Of the respondents, 93% expressed a desire for EMRS implementation. Identified barriers included financial constraints, insufficient infrastructure, staffing shortages, and technological challenges, such as unreliable internet access. Participants highlighted the anticipated benefits, such as improved data accessibility, enhanced operational efficiency, and preferences for digitizing lab reports and e-prescriptions.

Conclusion: Exploring and addressing the financial, organizational, and technological barriers as perceived by the participants are crucial steps to facilitate EMRS implementation in healthcare facilities. Larger in-depth studies are necessary to develop tailored strategies for overcoming these challenges in similar settings.

Keywords: Electronic Medical Record (EMR); Electronic Medical Record System (EMRS); Implementation barriers and benefits; India; Medical Doctors; Private-sector healthcare facility.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, with IEC Ref. No. 17/2022 and followed the norms of the National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, 2017) through the institutional ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, outlining the purpose, data handling procedures, right to withdraw from the study at any point, and confidentiality safeguards during and after the surveys. The data were obtained using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire and anonymised before analyses. The data is deposited in a password-secured computer with access limited to the researchers. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Attitudes of respondents towards the use of EMRS (N = 105). Abbreviations: EES: Electronic support system, EMRS: Electronic medical record systems
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Participants’ awareness of the reports collected, analysed, and presented in the inpatient departments of an Indian private-sector hospital
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Respondents’ preferences for digitalizing routine work in the Facility (N = 73, 70%)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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