Electronic health records and e-prescribing in Australia: An exploration of technological utilisation in Australian community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the utilisation, benefits, and challenges associated with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and e-prescribing systems in Australian Community Pharmacies, focusing on their integration into daily practice and the impacts on operational efficiency, while also gathering qualitative insights from community pharmacists. METHODS: A mixed-methods online survey was carried out among community pharmacists throughout Australia to assess the utilisation of EHR and e-prescribing systems, including the benefits and challenges associated with their use. Data was analysed based on pharmacists' age, gender, and practice location (metropolitan vs. regional). The chi-square test was applied to examine the relationship between these demographic factors and the utilisation and operational challenges of EHR and e-prescribing systems. RESULTS: The survey engaged 120 Australian community pharmacists. Of the participants, 67 % reported usability and efficiency issues with EHR systems. Regarding e-prescribing, 58 % of pharmacists faced delays due to slow software performance, while 42 % encountered errors in data transmission. Despite these challenges, the benefits of e-prescribing were evident, with 79 % of respondents noting the elimination of illegible prescriptions and 40 % observing a reduction in their workload. Issues with prescription quantity discrepancies and the reprinting process were highlighted, indicating areas for improvement in workflow and system usability. The analysis revealed no significant statistical relationship between the utilisation and challenges of EHR and e-prescribing systems with the demographic variables of age, gender and location (p > 0.05), emphasising the necessity for healthcare solutions that address the needs of all pharmacists regardless of specific demographic segments. CONCLUSION: In Australian community pharmacies, EHR and e-prescribing may enhance patient care but come with challenges such as data completeness, technical issues, and usability concerns. Implementing successful integration relies on user-centric design, standardised practices, and robust infrastructure. While demanding for pharmacists, the digital transition improves efficiency and quality of care. Ensuring user-friendly tools is crucial for the smooth utilisation of digital health.

Benefits and barriers associated with e-prescribing in community pharmacy - A systematic review.

Background: The utilization of electronic prescribing is growing, prompted by lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite this increasing adoption, there is a notable dearth of consolidated evidence regarding the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of electronic prescribing systems within the daily clinical practices of community pharmacists. Objective: This paper aims to systematically review the community pharmacists' perspectives on barriers and facilitators to electronic prescribing, addressing the significant need for understanding how electronic prescribing impacts the workflow and decision-making processes of pharmacists, ultimately influencing the quality of patient care. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were searched from January 1, 2000, to October 25, 2022, using search terms related to electronic prescribing, computerised physician order entry, community/retail pharmacies, and pharmacists. Results: A total of 28 studies were included in the systematic review. In these studies, community pharmacists perceived that design, interoperability, attitude towards e-prescribing technology, information quality, workflow, productivity, and accessible resources facilitated e-prescribing. In addition, the included studies emphasized the importance of technological support for the successful implementation of electronic prescribing systems. The system's design characteristics significantly improve e-prescribing technology's favourable effects. According to our review, it has been proposed that a poorly designed e-prescribing system can have a negative impact on the quality of care, implementation, and user satisfaction. In contrast, a well-designed system can significantly contribute to improvements. Conclusions: The review highlighted that e-prescribing has both barriers and facilitators, with the quality of the system and its implementation influencing these factors. Technical issues and user acceptance (patient/prescribers/pharmacists) can act as barriers or enablers, highlighting the need for comprehensive consideration and monitoring of e-prescribing to identify and address potential issues.