Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29872515›Full record

ArticleMalawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi2017

Factors affecting the utilisation of electronic medical records system in Malawian central hospitals.

Khwima E Mkalira Msiska, Andrew Kumitawa, Benjamin Kumwenda

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
4.3field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 66 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Digital Health Data Quality Issues: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023
    Pooled it
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  11. Dementia prevalence and risk factors in people with and without HIV in Malawi: A medical record review.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025
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  16. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Khwima E Mkalira MsiskaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
Andrew KumitawaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
Benjamin KumwendaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
University of Malawi · MW

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In Malawi, paper-based medical record-keeping has been observed to exacerbate challenges related to accessing patient records and patient tracking. Despite the introduction of electronic medical record (EMR) systems in 2001, paper-based records continue to be in use. Some health workers prefer paper-based records to EMRs. This study assessed factors that affect the use of EMRs in Malawi, particularly at Queen Elizabeth and Kamuzu Central Hospitals. It further investigated the reasons why paper-based records are still in use despite the numerous associated disadvantages. The extent to which EMRs contribute to patient care was also analysed. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 111 randomly selected health workers were interviewed, using a semistructured questionnaire, at the 2 largest central hospitals in Malawi, where EMRs were first introduced in the country. Focus group discussions were conducted to gather further information on factors identified during the individual interviews. Results and conclusions: Differences in age, gender, and previous computer experience were not associated with differences in EMR usage. However, education and employment levels has a positive association with EMR usage. Hardware and connectivity problems, as well as lack of training and managerial support negatively affected the use of EMRs. EMRs were found to improve data quality and efficiency in patient management.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelAttitude to ComputersAdultCross-Sectional StudiesElectronic Health RecordsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMalawiMaleMiddle AgedRandom AllocationSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID29872515
PMCPMC5811997
OpenAlexW2770692327

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.