RESUMEN
Background: The Avicenna unified Health Information System (HIS) was implemented by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in 2010 across government hospitals. Despite its potential, the acceptance of Avicenna HIS by healthcare providers remains unclear after 14 years of application. Understanding the factors that influence healthcare provider acceptance is essential for optimizing the system's success. We investigated factors affecting acceptance of Avicenna HIS among healthcare providers in Palestinian healthcare institutions, focusing on perceived usefulness, ease of use, human factors, technological factors, and organizational support. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Palestine Medical Complex (PMC) in Ramallah, West Bank, where the Avicenna HIS has been fully implemented since 2010. A systematic random sampling was used to select participants, resulting in 300 completed questionnaires. The study utilized a self-administered questionnaire adapted from a structured tool based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The questionnaire was validated through expert review and pilot testing, achieving a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. Each selected healthcare provider was contacted face-to-face, and written informed consent was obtained before administering the questionnaire. Results: A total of 300 questionnaires were completed and returned. The study sample included 178 males (59.3%) and 122 females (40.7%). The majority of participants was aged 20-39 years (270 participants, 90%) and held a bachelor's degree (250 participants, 83.3%). Nurses comprised the largest professional group (153 participants, 51.0%). High levels of perceived usefulness and ease of use were reported, both with mean scores of 4.511 (S.D. = 0.295). Technological factors had a mean score of 4.004 (S.D. = 0.228), while organizational factors scored 2.858 (S.D. = 0.304). Overall acceptance of the HIS was moderately high, with a mean score of 4.218 (S.D. = 0.387). Significant differences in perceived usefulness and ease of use were noted based on gender, age, and experience. Conclusion: This study concludes that both technological and human factors significantly influence the acceptance of HIS among healthcare providers in Palestine. To improve HIS adoption, it is recommended to enhance system functionality, ensure reliable data quality, and provide comprehensive training programs for healthcare providers.
RESUMEN
Background University students are at a higher risk of using cognitive enhancers and psychoactive substances. Depression is associated with a noticeable decline in academic performance and can increase the risk of substance use. Due to sociopolitical issues, the use of cognitive enhancers and psychoactive substances among Palestinians has spread in the last decade. However, depression among tobacco and caffeine users remains underrecognized and neglected. Methodology A self-administrated questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess the association of depression and the use of cognitive enhancers and psychoactive substances among university students at An-Najah National University in 2020. Results The response rate to the questionnaires was 78.8% (n = 1,051; 38.8% males, 61.2% females). The overall prevalence of depression was high (30.6% males, 34.7% females). The prevalence of cigarette smoking (39.2% males, 3.9% females), waterpipe smoking (43.1% males, 21.6% females), energy drink consumption (59.6% males, 29.7% females), coffee consumption (85.5% for each gender), tea consumption, and chocolate consumption was high, with significant differences in accordance to gender and academic fields. The multinomial logistic regression results revealed that cigarette smokers were more likely to have a higher risk of severe (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, p = 0.001), moderate (OR = 3.27, p < 0.001), and mild depression (OR = 2.24, p = 0.002) than non-smokers. Severe depression was less prevalent among medical students than health sciences and non-medical students (OR = 0.215, p = 0.015). Moreover, males were less likely to have moderate (OR = 0.5, p = 0.012) and mild (OR = 0.48, p = 0.001) depression than females. Conclusions Overall, the results of this study revealed the high prevalence of depression and the detrimental effects of smoking on students. Moreover, the findings suggest the urgent need to address depression and risk factors among Palestinian university students by educating them about mental health, identifying high-risk students, and offering easily accessible psychological help. Further, it is crucial to broaden the focus of studies to include students from various academic fields instead of focusing on medical students.