Physician resistance: relationship between perceptions of system effectiveness and influencing attitudes affecting the adoption of computerized physician order entry

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the degree to which relationships between a physician's perception of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system effectiveness in adverse drug event (ADE) reduction and influencing attitudes affect the adoption of the CPOE system in hospitals. Currently, few studies are available that specifically examine key issues of physician resistance; however, no specific research exists that examines relationships between physicians' perceptions of CPOE system's effectiveness and influencing attitudes affecting adoption of CPOE system in hospitals. The descriptive correlational study answers the following question: What is the degree to which the level of a physician's perception of the CPOE system in the reduction of ADEs and enhancing patient safety correlate with influencing attitudes affecting adoption of the CPOE system? The study assessed physicians' perceptions regarding CPOE system adoption in hospitals. Highly significant associations became evident among physicians who deemed utilization of the CPOE system enhanced their efficiency, saved time, system satisfaction, wanted ownership of electronic charting and ordering, were responsive to technical support, and considered themselves computer literate. This study is significant because it provides a better understanding of physicians' continued resistance in assimilation of the CPOE system. The study's results lay the foundation filling the gap in literature by its analysis of physicians' perceptions that influence attitudes towards acceptance or opposition to the adoption of the CPOE system. The study assists health care administrators with enhancing current policies and implementing directives instigating positive training initiatives and facilitating adequate information technology support necessary for positive assimilation of CPOE system by physicians.