Physicians' Perceptions of Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Medications in the West Bank, Palestine: A Pre-Implementation Assessment

BACKGROUND:In Palestine, prescribing controlled medications is still done on paper. Despite valuable regulatory efforts, there is a high risk of undetected abuse and "doctor shopping". These problems can be addressed with electronic prescribing of controlled medicines (EPCM). User adoption is essential to the successful implementation of any technology. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the perception of end users at an early stage. This topic has never been addressed in Palestine. Our study aims to investigate the perception of Palestinian physicians towards the introduction of EPCM.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted among Palestinian physicians in the West Bank who are familiar with controlled medications prescribing. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire based on the Unified Theory of User Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) from a convenience sample of 300 physicians. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis and binary and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with physicians' perceptions of ECPM.RESULTS:Most physicians expressed their willingness to use EPCM, with an acceptance rate of 85%. This perception was significantly affected by performance expectancy, effort expectancy and trust. None was moderated by age, gender, or experience with electronic prescribing. Age and specialization level were independent factors significantly influencing the intention to use EPCM. The level of current workflow challenges did not correlate with the intent to use EPCM.CONCLUSION:Palestinian physicians will accept EPCM. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the following be considered: ensuring maximum efficiency of the system, selecting user-friendly interfaces and high-security measures to prevent system breaches.