Predictors of the Use of E-Medicine by Medical Doctors

Abstract

Background and objectives: Recent developments have continued to challenge the myriad of reasons that healthcare has not been automated as much as education, industry or banking. Some of which may be that healthcare is very personal. However, the introduction of clinical decision systems has continued to grow in the developed world and very recently in developing countries such as South Africa and Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of e-medicine at 3 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The study determined the predictors of doctors' use of e-medicine. It explored the evidence of the adoption and the use of ICT by the doctors and medical doctors in Nigeria.Methods: A quantitative method using survey research design was adopted in line with a positivist paradigm. Survey questionnaire was used for data collection. A test-retest reliability was embarked upon to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. A statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data and methods of analysis included descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis. Results:The results revealed key and emerging variables for the extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (UTAUT) to better explain doctors' use of e-medicine. The study revealed that fear and lack of e-medicine awareness are responsible for the low use rates of e-medicine and suggested that strategies, devises and interventions should be introduced to induce the use of e-medicine.

An Emiprical Analysis on the Uses and Effects of Medical Database Management System by Medical Doctors in Tamil Nadu

“…Olasina and Popoola [37] examined that use of information technology supports in information processing, decision making and records keeping in the health sector and the level of adoption varies according to health professionals, especially the doctors.…”