ABSTRACT
Background/Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the implementation of telehealth and virtual care services. Clinicians must be comfortable using this technology in order for it to be developed effectively and implemented consistently. This study evaluated the influence of various factors, including those theorised in the technology acceptance model, on physicians' intention to use teleconsultations in their clinical practice in Chennai, India. Methods: A snowball sampling method was used to distribute an online survey to physicians in Chennai, India. The survey measured respondents' intention to use teleconsultations (dependent variable), along seven independent variables relating to this technology (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, physicians' attitudes, social influences, facilitating conditions, perceived compatibility with the clinical area and trust). A total of 165 responses were collected. Results were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics, along with multiple linear regression. Results: All seven independent variables were found to be significantly associated with the dependent variable (P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the independent variables accounted for 67.8% of the variance in respondents' intention to use teleconsultations. Conclusions: Physicians' intention to use teleconsultations is complex and multi-faceted. Although the factors theorised by the technology acceptance model were significantly associated with intention to use telemedicine, other factors were also found to be important, including social influences, external facilitating factors, perceived compatibility with the clinical area and personal trust in technology.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: E-prescribing is the most important achievement in the automation of the healthcare sector in Poland. Obligatory electronic prescribing came into force on 8 January 2020. This innovation significantly changes the work of doctors. Therefore, it is useful to identify the factors that have an impact on doctors' acceptance levels for the new technology. METHODS: This study employs a survey based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) method. Our questionnaire was completed by 144 family doctors in Poland during the technology implementation phase and the initial period of obligatory e-prescribing, between 1 December 2019 and 1 March 2020. RESULTS: The results of the survey indicate that doctors do not believe that e-prescribing improves the effectiveness of their work. In addition, this attitude does not depend on the age of the respondent. We also found, regarding the influence of societal attitudes, that doctors only rarely consider the opinions of others in relation to their job. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of new technologies in the healthcare system must be accompanied by consideration of how user-friendly the technologies are, and whether the users will have appropriate technical and financial support.