Transforming quality use of medicines in Saudi Arabia: physician perspectives on electronic prescribing systems

Electronic prescribing (EP) systems are now a core component of hospital healthcare in Saudi Arabia (SA), aiming to enhance patient safety and streamline complex clinical workflows. There is, however, limited evidence on how physicians in large government hospitals that use multiple prescribing platforms view these systems in daily practice, as most prior research has focused on primary care or on single academic centres. This study aimed to evaluate physicians' perspectives on the effectiveness and efficiency of EP systems across multiple government hospitals in a major Saudi city and to identify key advantages and obstacles associated with their use.

A cross-sectional survey, adapted from validated international tools, was conducted in March 2025 among physicians in seven government hospitals. The questionnaire comprised four sections: demographics, efficiency (18 items), effectiveness (10 items), and open-ended questions on perceived advantages and challenges. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics to summarise responses, Pearson's chi-squared test to examine associations between variables, and thematic analysis for free-text comments.

A total of 167 physicians completed the survey; most were male (82.6%), and nearly half were general practitioners (46.1%). Overall satisfaction with EP systems was high, with respondents reporting perceived improvements in workflow efficiency (79.0%), patient safety (91.0%), error reduction (91.0%), and guideline adherence (86.8%). Mean scores on a five-point scale were 4.30 (SD = 0.82) for efficiency and 4.59 (SD = 0.71) for effectiveness. Efficiency scores were significantly associated with physician gender (p < 0.05) and specialty (p < 0.01). Physicians perceived EP as associated with reduced administrative burden, faster error correction, and smoother coordination with pharmacists, while commonly reported challenges included poor internet reliability, system downtime, incomplete medication lists, and limited training.

Physicians in Saudi government hospitals generally view EP systems as beneficial, helping to streamline workflows, enhance patient safety, and support evidence-based practice. Nevertheless, technical issues, training gaps, and workflow disruptions indicate that these systems are not yet operating at full potential. Addressing these challenges through targeted training, infrastructure upgrades, and improved interprofessional communication is essential to maximise the benefits of digital prescribing and align with international best practices.