Kijsanayotin, B., Pannarunothai, S., & Speedie, S. (2008). Factors influencing health information technology adoption in Thailand’s community health centers: Applying the UTAUT model.
In this article, authors reported findings of a research conducted in Thailand. The study sought to explain factors that influence adoption and use of health information technology (IT) in Thailand’s community health centers. The research used UTAUT theoretical model to test the relationship between data variables.
The investigators used observational study design. A stratified random sample representing all the provinces was selected (1607 community health centers). Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. Each respondent was expected to fill a questionnaire and either mail it back to the researchers or hand it in through field research assistants.
The authors did an extensive literature review. Majority of the articles cited by the researchers had already been published in developed countries. However, the articles were relevant to this research which was conducted in a developing country.
Results showed that adoption and use of information technology in the Health sector was influenced by utility of information technology (performance expectancy), level of difficulty, influence by others, and liberty to choose. Performance expectancy was the best predictor as compared to other variables.
Other factors that influenced use of IT in community health centers included past experience, intention to use the system, and institutional support system. Past experience exerted the strongest effect.
Personnel who had used an IT system before were likely to accept and use information technology to manage health information. Facilitating factors exerted a significant effect. The researchers concluded by stating that the study would influence adoption of IT in developing countries.
The article relates to concepts in the course in various ways. Adoption and utilization of technology depend on factors similar to those identified in the article. The concepts include perception of usefulness, level of difficulty, opinion of others, and additional support.
People are likely to adopt and utilize technology if they can attach some value to it. Level of difficulty and additional support are by far the greatest predictors of adoption and use. Additional support may involve retraining personnel.
UTAUT theoretical framework has been used extensively by commercial organizations to predict adoption and use of information technology. This survey was the first to apply UTAUT model in the health sector. However, the methodology had to be modified. Previous predictions were restricted to organizations.
The study targeted individual respondents. Factors influencing acceptance and use of information technology were studied. The results showed no variation in the manner in which people and organizations utilize technology. The methodology employed in this research was appropriate. Random sampling ensured that all health personnel had an equal chance of being selected to take part in the study.
The authors did not point out limitations they encountered. Limitations could have affected the quality of data. When limitations are not reported, it creates an impression that the information is not credible. The researchers concluded by suggesting that UTAUT is an appropriate model for the developing world.
A single study is not enough to make such a conclusion. In addition, the aim of the study was to identify factors that influenced acceptance and adoption of information technology. The researchers should have concluded by recommending further research to test their assumptions.
Reference
Kijsanayotin, B., Pannarunothai, S., & Speedie, S. (2008). Factors influencing health information technology adoption in Thailand’s community health centers: Applying the UTAUT model. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 78(2009), 404–416.