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Research article
Validation of an e-health readiness assessment framework for developing countries
Kabelo Leonard Mauco
Botho University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9726-5966
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Health Services Research.
Background: Studies document e-health as having potential to improve quality of healthcare services, resulting in both developed and developing countries demonstrating continued interest in e-health uptake and use. e-Health implementations are not always successful as high failure rates have been reported in both developed and developing countries. These failures are often a result of lack of e-health readiness. e-Health readiness has been defined as the preparedness of healthcare institutions or communities for the anticipated change brought by programs related to information and communication technologies. As such it is critical to conduct an e-health readiness assessment prior to implementation of e-health innovations so as to reduce chances of project failure. Noting the absence of an adequate e-health readiness assessment framework (eHRAF) suitable for use in developing countries, the authors conceptualised, designed, and created a developing country specific eHRAF to aid in e-health policy planning. The aim of this study was to validate the developed eHRAF and to determine if it required further refinement before empirical testing.
Methods: Published options for a framework validation process were adopted, and fifteen globally located e-health experts engaged. Botswana experts were engaged using saturation sampling, while international experts were purposively selected. Responses were collated in an Excel spreadsheet, and NVivo 11 software used to aid thematic analysis of the open ended questions.
Results: Analysis of responses showed overall support for the content and format of the proposed eHRAF. Equivocal responses to some open ended questions were recorded, most of which suggested modifications to terms within the framework. One expert from the developed world had alternate views.
Conclusions: The proposed eHRAF provides guidance for e-health policy development and planning by identifying, in an evidence based manner, the major areas to be considered when preparing for an e-health readiness assessment in the context of developing countries.
Keywords
e-Health, e-health readiness assessment, frameworks, models, validation, Botswana, developing countries
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 17 Jun, 2020
Published
On 23 Jun, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 18 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 12 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 08 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 20 May, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 17 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 30 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 22 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 15 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Mar, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Feb, 2020
Metrics
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Health Services Research. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Validation of an e-health readiness assessment framework for developing countries
Kabelo Leonard Mauco
Botho University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9726-5966
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 17 Jun, 2020
Published
On 23 Jun, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 18 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 12 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 08 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 20 May, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 17 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 30 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 22 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 15 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Mar, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Health Services Research.
Background: Studies document e-health as having potential to improve quality of healthcare services, resulting in both developed and developing countries demonstrating continued interest in e-health uptake and use. e-Health implementations are not always successful as high failure rates have been reported in both developed and developing countries. These failures are often a result of lack of e-health readiness. e-Health readiness has been defined as the preparedness of healthcare institutions or communities for the anticipated change brought by programs related to information and communication technologies. As such it is critical to conduct an e-health readiness assessment prior to implementation of e-health innovations so as to reduce chances of project failure. Noting the absence of an adequate e-health readiness assessment framework (eHRAF) suitable for use in developing countries, the authors conceptualised, designed, and created a developing country specific eHRAF to aid in e-health policy planning. The aim of this study was to validate the developed eHRAF and to determine if it required further refinement before empirical testing.
Methods: Published options for a framework validation process were adopted, and fifteen globally located e-health experts engaged. Botswana experts were engaged using saturation sampling, while international experts were purposively selected. Responses were collated in an Excel spreadsheet, and NVivo 11 software used to aid thematic analysis of the open ended questions.
Results: Analysis of responses showed overall support for the content and format of the proposed eHRAF. Equivocal responses to some open ended questions were recorded, most of which suggested modifications to terms within the framework. One expert from the developed world had alternate views.
Conclusions: The proposed eHRAF provides guidance for e-health policy development and planning by identifying, in an evidence based manner, the major areas to be considered when preparing for an e-health readiness assessment in the context of developing countries.
Figure 1
Figure 2