Evaluation of Feature Importance and Satisfaction in Electronic Prescribing Systems Used by Clinicians in Arizona

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To measure the attitudes of Arizona e-prescribing clinicians regarding (1) the importance of key criteria that may be used in the selection of an e-prescribing system; and (2) their satisfaction with key criteria as implemented within their current e- prescribing system. METHODS: This study utilized a print-based questionnaire. The questionnaire was faxed weekly to clinicians who were registered office-based e-prescribers in Arizona until either a response was received or three fax cycles were completed. Clinicians were asked to rate the importance of each e-prescribing feature on a five-point scale, where 1 was not at all important and 5 was extremely important. For each e-prescribing feature, clinicians were asked to rate their satisfaction with their current e-prescribing system on a seven-point scale, where -3 was very dissatisfied and +3 was very satisfied. Demographic data were collected on practice size, practice type, prescription entry, e-prescribing software vendor and system used, year e-prescribing started, and comments. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed and returned by 114 clinicians. The overall mean for feature importance and satisfaction was 4.22 and 4.92, respectively. Of the 39 criteria, 9 were categorized as having high importance with low satisfaction; and 14 were categorized as having high importance with high satisfaction. The nine criteria with high importance but low satisfaction were related to vendor support, system cost, lack of e-prescribing features, and unrealized benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Arizona e-prescribers are moderately satisfied with the basic functions provided by their electronic prescribing systems. Their dissatisfaction with electronic prescribing systems may be due to vendor support and system costs.