Effects of Health Record Computerization in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Burundi’ Hospitals: Propensity Score Matching

Introduction: A great number of software are currently used to digitalize the patient records in order to optimize the quality of services offered to patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Electronic Health Records use in Burundi’s hospitals, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic context. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study based on difference in difference method. Ten district hospitals were included in the study, five of them had the Electronic Health Records and five of which did not yet have the Electronic Health Records. The hospital’s control group were chosen using the propensity score matching method. The period before the project’s implementation was 2014 and the period after were 2019 and 2020. Results: After 5 years of the Electronic Health Record’s implementation, the results showed an increase in outpatient consultation (70%), deliveries (more than 100%), caesarean sections (56%) and major surgeries (43%) indicators. The overall quality score of hospitals’ care had a regressive effect of 37% and the income from performance-based funding had an increase by 31%. The indicators which were affected by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were especially outpatient consultation, caesarian section, income from performance-based funding decreased by 3%, 5% and 20% respectively. Conclusion: The effects of Electronic Health Records use are effective. As the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the hospital’s indicators negatively, the resilient strategies alongside the potential shocks are recommended.