The Study of Educational Needs of Medical Records Staff of Hospitals in Khuzestan Province (2011)

In recent years، There has been a change from paper to electronic medical records with more attention to the contents of health data resulting in the development of new opportunities and concurrently new educational needs for medical records professionals. The aim of the present study was to assess t he educational needs of medical records staff. The po pulation of this descriptive study consisted of all the medical records staff in 52 hospitals of Khuzestan province. Job and education relatedness were considered as the inclusion criteria for participation in the study. Data، having been gathered by a questionnaire، were analyzed through descriptive statistics. It was generally found that literacy in the areas of computer and information technology were considered as the most significant educational needs by the staff (70. 4%) while literacy in the areas of safety and occupational health were regarded as the least significant needs (50%). Regarding needs differences of the staff with different academic degrees، the highest needs of the holders of associate، bachelor، and master degrees were the skills in the implementation of health statistical activities (78%)، use of computer and information technology (74%)، and the implementation of health statistical activities in medical records (72%)، respectively. It can be concluded that، along with the development of computerized health information systems، the enhancement of computer and information technology literacy of medical records staff are the needs to be met by authorities.