An E-health records system for indigenous medicine practice in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research study is based on the indigenous medicine practice in Sri Lanka. This system of medicine still uses traditional methods for treatments and has a long historical background with conventional development also taking place. As of late 2011, there are 62 Ayurveda hospitals, 208 Dispensaries, and 231 Free Ayurveda dispensaries for indigenous healthcare delivery. These 501 Ayurveda healthcare delivery centers are functioning under the government sector. With the ongoing recognition of immense benefits in indigenous medicine and treatments, a local as well as a global demand for the indigenous system ofmedicine is increasing rapidly. The current means of indigenous healthcare delivery and management has been unable to meet this growing demand in an effective manner. In addition, there has been no concentrated effort to adopt modem technological practices to cope with that demand for indigenous medicine and treatments. The main objective of the research work presented in this thesis was to explore the approaches and mechanisms required for introducing an e-health records system to the indigenous medical practice and consequent implications to practitioners and the field of indigenous medicine. The generally identified problems hindering the adoption of modem technological capabilities in indigenous medicine practice were the use of informal medical record systems that are paper-based and the nonavailability of standard lists of Classification of Diseases, Medicinal Plants, and Prepared Drugs. This research study focused on the means necessary to overcome these main problems and to identify the perception of Ayurveda medical officers towards the use ofICT and their tendency to adopt modem practices. This thesis also analyzes the experiences ofseveral other countries in the adoption of ICT in healthcare sector thrdugh a detailed literature review. Based on the literature study, a theoretical model to study adoption of ICT technologies and mechanisms was selected and modified according to the local requirements. Using this model, termed the Fit Individual Task and Technology (FITT) model, an empirical research study was conducted through a questionnaire-based data collection. The theoretical vn model allows the study of three variables, Attitudes Towards Use of ICT (ATUI), Perceived Usefulness (PU), and Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) to understand the implications of technology adoption in a hitherto non ICT-oriented sector. In the study, a random sample of 302 was drawn from an approximate population of 1,400 indigenous medicine practitioners and administrators. From this sample. 280 respondents provided empirical data for a statistical analysis and demographic data for a thorough understanding ofthe indigenous healthcare sector. An overwhelming majority of 267 respondents positively identified with initiatives for an e-health system for the indigenous medicine sector. This research study revealed the need for a coding system for all classifications of data sets in the indigenous medicine sector and an outcome ofthe study was such a coding system prepared through the perusal of many Ayurveda textbooks, other publications relevant to coding and classification systems, and interactions with pioneers in the sector of indigenous medicine. It is expected that the availability of a standard coding scheme would spur the introduction and wide adoption of an ehealth Records System to indigenous medicine sector by modifying existing software systems for the western medicine practice.