Assessing the satisfaction of physicians in using the electronic prescription system of social security in Iran in 2021

Abstract Background: E-prescribing has been proposed as an important strategy to reduce medication errors, improve the quality of patient care and save on health care costs. Despite the potential benefits of e-prescribing, human factors can play an important role in the viability and success of new technology, and user satisfaction is one of them. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the satisfaction of physicians in using the electronic prescription system of social security in Mashhad and Sabzevar in Iran. Methods: This is an applied study and was performed by descriptive cross-sectional method. The study population included physicians who used the electronic social security prescription system in Mashhad and Sabzevar. Sampling was available and data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21. Findings: In the study population, the majority of users (51.7%) were women and (48.3%) were men, (36.1%) were in the age group of 30-39 years (31.7%) of them. Have a work experience of 5 years and less than 5 years and also (48.3%) of users have a general medical doctorate degree and most users (40%) have used this system for 6 months and less than 6 months. Physicians had high agreement that e-prescribing reduces errors and prescribing interventions and were satisfied with warnings about incorrect drug doses and drug interactions. In general, physicians were dissatisfied with performance and efficiency (48.3%) and system speed (51.46%). Physicians were also satisfied with sending prescriptions to pharmacies (73.4%) and confidentiality of patients' information (73.4%). Most physicians (63.3%) agree to set up the system in the country. Conclusions: The results of the survey show that the implementation of the electronic version system is reasonably advanced. Survey findings provide opportunities to improve the system and workflow, which is important because these issues can affect the acceptability of new technology and the speed of dissemination in an organization