The Use of a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to Predict Patients’ Usage of a Personal Health Record System: The Role of Security, Privacy, and Usability

Abstract

Personal health records (PHR) systems are designed to ensure that individuals have access and control over their health information and to support them in being active participants rather than passive ones in their healthcare process. Yet, PHR systems have not yet been widely adopted or used by consumers despite their benefits. For these advantages to be realized, adoption of the system is necessary. In this study, we examined how self-determination of health management influences individuals’ intention to implement a PHR system, i.e., their ability to actively manage their health. Using an extended technology acceptance model (TAM), the researchers developed and empirically tested a model explaining public adoption of PHRs. In total, 389 Saudi Arabian respondents were surveyed in a quantitative cross-sectional design. The hypotheses were analysed using structural equation modelling–partial least squares (SEM-PLS4). Results indicate that PHR system usage was influenced by three major factors: perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), and security towards intention to use. PHR PEOU and PHR intention to use were also found to be moderated by privacy, whereas usability positively moderated PHR PEOU and PHR intention to use and negatively moderated PHR PU and PHR intention to use. For the first time, this study examined the use of personal health records in Saudi Arabia, including the extension of the TAM model as well as development of a context-driven model that examines the relationship between privacy, security, usability, and the use of PHRs. Furthermore, this study fills a gap in the literature regarding the moderating effects of privacy influence on PEOU and intention to use. Further, the moderating effects of usability on the relationship between PEOU, PU, and intention to use. Study findings are expected to assist government agencies, health policymakers, and health organizations around the world, including Saudi Arabia, in understanding the adoption of personal health records.

The Reasons for Physicians and Pharmacists’ Acceptance of Clinical Support Systems in Saudi Arabia

“…The international standards organization defined EMR as “a repository of information regarding the health status of a subject of care in computer process-able form” [ 37 ]. EMR systems are designed as integrated modules that cover different types of users, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, radiology and laboratory technologists, and the hospital’s management [ 3 ]. CDSS are defined as integrated information systems that use medical knowledge and provide access to patients’ data and medical history from clinical information systems or electronic medical records to support and enhance the clinical decision-making process [ 38 ].…”

“…Several previous studies have used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its extended successor models, such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), to investigate ICT adoption within the healthcare context [ 3 ]. However, there is a lack of research using these technology acceptance models to examine the adoption of CDSS [ 6 ].…”

“…This systematic review showed that the factors associated with the Technological and Human domain are the most effective in CDSS acceptance. In addition, several human domain factors, such as training, trust, security, and safety, have been found to influence acceptance of CDSS [ 3 ].…”

“…This is a global issue affecting healthcare quality, therefore enhancing patients’ information management would help in improving the quality of health care by reducing medical errors [ 2 ]. Although the adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and other hospital information systems such as Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) has increased [ 3 , 4 ], EMR and CPOE are insufficient to prevent a large number of medication errors without full integration with an intelligent module such as (CDSS) [ 5 , 6 ].…”

The influence of accounting information system adoption on business performance amid COVID-19

“…In the business model of today, signs of globalization are clearly manifested along with competitive information, dynamic digitalization and dissemination ( Alsyouf et al, 2023 ; Lutfi, 2022a ; Lutfi et al, 2023 ). Additionally, the current technological age has brought about data processing computrization investments in various industris, sectors and activities essentially linking technological development to methods and applications, and thereby changing the business processes ( Lutfi et al, 2022a ).…”