Predicting healthcare professionals’ acceptance towards electronic personal health record systems in a resource-limited setting: using modified technology acceptance model

Abstract

Objectives Personal health record systems allow users to manage their health information in a confidential manner. However, there is little evidence about healthcare providers’ intentions to use such technologies in resource-limited settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess predicting healthcare providers’ acceptance of electronic personal health record systems. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 19 July to 23 August 2022 at teaching hospitals in the Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. A total of 638 health professionals participated in the study. Simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Structural equation modelling analysis was employed using AMOS V.26 software. Result Perceived ease of use had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0. 377, p<0.01), perceived usefulness (β=0.104, p<0.05) and attitude (β=0.204, p<0.01); perceived ease of use and information technology experience had a significant effect on perceived usefulness (β=0.077, p<0.05); and digital literacy (β=0.087, p<0.05) and attitude had also a strong effect on intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0.361, p<0.01). The relationship between perceived ease of use and the intention to use was mediated by attitude (β=0.076, p<0.01). Conclusion Perceived ease of use, attitude and digital literacy had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records. The perceived ease of use had a greater influence on the intention to use electronic personal health record systems. Thus, capacity building and technical support could enhance health providers’ acceptance of using electronic personal health records in Ethiopia.

Intention to Use Patient Portal and Its Predictors Among Diabetic Patients Enrolled in Referral Hospitals, Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023: Utaut2 Modeling

“…So that, it is important to make sure that the system will improve the desired health outcomes when developing it (89). This study result consistent with the studies done (15,23,43,44,79,90,91).…”

“…This study's ndings show that of the total participants in the study, 39.25% were found to have an intention to use patient portal, which is less than half of the participants. This study result is lower as compared to studies done on diabetic patients intentions to use mHealth applications (79) and willingness to receive mHealth services among diabetes patients in Ethiopia (80). This discrepancy might be due to sample size and awareness difference between mHealth app and patient portal technology as well as 75% and 77.8% of participants respectively in those studies were mobile owner.…”

“…According to a study, awareness and training of the new technology improve user's perceived ease of use and, consequently, increase intention to use the technology (93). And lack of user-friendly feature also reason for most of patient portal and other eHealth technology failure (27).This result consistent with other evidence (23,46,79,87,90,91).…”

Health professionals’ acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline application in a resource-limited setting: using a modified UTAUT model

“…In Tanzania, the UTAUT model is used to test accredited drug dispensing outlet programs and to identify factors that would impact system users [ 58 ]. In Ethiopia, various studies confirmed that the modified UTAUT model is suitable for the acceptance of electronic medical and personal health record systems among the health professionals perspective [ 59 , 60 ], the adoption of e-learning [ 61 ], and the sustainable adoption of the eHealth system [ 39 ]. Moderators such as age [ 62 , 63 ], sex [ 64 – 66 ], and experience could influence the model predictors and health professionals’ intention to accept mobile-based clinical guideline applications.…”

“…Computer literacy (CL) is health professionals’ basic information communication technology skill and knowledge, the ability they have, and how system users are technically good at using mobile-based clinical guideline applications [ 60 , 83 ]. An individual also can seek, evaluate, and communicate information using media across a range of digital platforms, and influence acceptance of mobile-based clinical guidelines applications [ 59 , 84 , 85 ].…”