Information Technology and Its Transformation Effect on Health Care System in Saudi Arabia

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor professor Rainer sibbel, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this thesis would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I Ahmed H Almathami], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the School.

Signed ____ahmed______________ Date _26-02-2012________________

ABSTRACT

In this study, the researcher aims to determine physician's perception of how CIS can improve the health system as a whole in Saudi Arabia. In order to accomplish the research aims the research opts for King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC) -Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a case. The current state of the Saudi Arabia healthcare system and its failure to fully make use of information technology in healthcare has been addressed in a series of reports from the Institutes of Medicine (lOM) Committee on Quality of Health care in Saudi Arabia. Tasked by the Department of Health and Human Services with reporting on healthcare delivery in the Saudi Arabia., the committee's 1999 report describes a system that is not keeping pace with the health needs of the population. Care is fragmented, based on outdated practice patterns, lacking in standards of care, and therefore is violating the guiding principle of medicine, to do no harm to patients. This research was established and carried out by using a quantitative research method. Primary data was collected using the questionnaires in order to prove the hypothesis. The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about the perception of physician's regarding CIS and how it can improve the health system in Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, it can be concluded that physician's perceived that CIS can improve the health system in Saudi Arabia. However, Healthcare and medical informatics systems must be designed to include the constructs that keep threats from penetrating their IT environment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Overview of the study2

Introduction3

Problem Statement4

Rationale and Significance5

Aims and Objectives6

Theoretical Framework7

Research Questions9

Hypothesis10

Ethical Concerns10

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW12

Healthcare Domain12

Challenges in the Healthcare Domain13

Defining Healthcare Information Systems13

Clinical Information Systems in Health care14

History of Information Systems in Healthcare15

Healthcare-IT-Adoption Model17

Inhibitors of Usage Research Model19

Unified Model (Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)21

Saudi Arabia21

Economy24

Population Status25

Existing Problems in Healthcare25

Barriers and Challenges of Information technology on Healthcare26

Gap Analysis28

IT Rejection in Health Care in Saudi Arabia29

Clinical Information Systems (CIS) in Saudi Arabia31

Case Study: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC) -Riyadh, Saudi Arabia32

Introduction32

Establishment33

Process management and use of Information System34

General Technology (Information Systems) in KFSH&RC36

Staff performance and their satisfaction37

Health Care Learning and IS38

Security38

Telemedicine40

Information Management Issues in Saudi Arabia41

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY48

Research Design48

Overview of Quantitative Research Approach49

Data Collection:49

Case Study50

Instrument50

Survey Questionnaire51

Sample51

Variables51

Design and Application of Questionnaires52

Questionnaire Responses52

Data Analysis53

Ethical Considerations53

Confidentiality54

Validity54

Reliability55

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS57

Discussion57

Hospital Information Systems (HIS)57

Clinical Information Systems (CIS)57

Impacts of Clinical Information Systems (CIS) in health care59

Healthcare Information Systems Users59

CIS and Physician's61

Analysis of Survey Questionnaire61

Sample Size61

Demographics62

Question 01: Hospital Information System (HIS)62

Question 02: ...