Expectations and opinions regarding the implementation of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system - a before-and-after survey.

Abstract

Objective: Despite the documented beneficial effects of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems and despite numerous incentives for their adoption in various countries around the globe implementation teams encounter unexpected difficulties when launching CPOE systems. This survey aimed at gathering users' opinions on CPOE implementation. Additional factors that can be influenced by CPOE implementation were equally considered, namely workplace satisfaction, interprofessional collaboration, patient safety climate, system usability, and organisational readiness to implement change. Methods: We performed a mixed-mode survey at a tertiary care university hospital that introduced a commercial CPOE system. The survey consisted of validated questionnaires, self-developed, and socio-demographic questions. It was distributed both before and after CPOE implementation. Answers were descriptively analysed, compared between time-points, and assessed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Users showed very diverse and only cautiously optimistic opinions towards CPOE implementation, which remained mainly unchanged during the post-survey. Respondents rated the system usability, organisational readiness for implementing change, and patient safety climate rather poorly, while workplace satisfaction and interprofessional collaboration were rated positively. Conclusion: This survey contributes to understanding user perspectives by providing valuable insights into user opinions before and after CPOE implementation, taking into account a range of associated factors.