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Research article
Modeling the Acceptance and Use of Electronic Medical Records from Patients’ Point of View: Evidence from Saudi Arabia
Dalal Bamufleh
Yanbu University College
Corresponding Author
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The employment of IT in healthcare reflects a need to meet the increasing demands of patients and to upgrade the quality and productivity of the provided services. However, the literature demonstrates many failures in systems and IT technology implementation in the context of healthcare. One of the reasons behind these failures is users’ resistance to accept such new technology. The ministry of health in Saudi Arabia has prioritized the embracing of new technologies that could level up the healthcare service, such as the adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) systems. On the other hand, studies that address the acceptance and use of hospital information systems and EMRs in Saudi Arabia from patients’ points of view are scarce. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ acceptance of an EMR system by testing a proposed theoretical model adapted from the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT).
Methods
An online questionnaire was used where questions were based on the proposed model constructs (facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude, and behavioral intention). One hundred sixteen patients responded to the questionnaire. The model was then tested using the structural equation modeling method to identify the factors that affect patients’ intention to use the online services of the EMR.
Results
The analysis of the research model suggested that (1) facilitating conditions that involved patients’ knowledge, skills, and the provided support by the hospital directly influenced the degree of perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the system. (2) PEOU directly affected the EMR’s perceived usefulness (PU). (3) PU directly affected patients’ attitudes (ATT) toward using the EMR. (4) A positive effect is found between ATT and the behavioral intention to use EMR.
Conclusion
The study results have implications for healthcare IT acceptance research and efforts in Saudi Arabia, as to date patients’ perspectives have received little attention. The research also makes a theoretical contribution as it validated the proposed model, which integrated constructs from TAM and UTAUT.
Keywords
EMR, HIS, TAM, UTAUT
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 08 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Withdrawn by author
On 21 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 05 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 05 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 14 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Jun, 2020
First submitted
On 18 Jun, 2020
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On 18 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Jun, 2020
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Subject Areas
Medical Informatics
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 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
Modeling the Acceptance and Use of Electronic Medical Records from Patients’ Point of View: Evidence from Saudi Arabia
Dalal Bamufleh
Yanbu University College
Corresponding Author
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: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 08 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Withdrawn by author
On 21 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 05 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 05 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 14 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Jun, 2020
First submitted
On 18 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Jun, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Medical Informatics
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The employment of IT in healthcare reflects a need to meet the increasing demands of patients and to upgrade the quality and productivity of the provided services. However, the literature demonstrates many failures in systems and IT technology implementation in the context of healthcare. One of the reasons behind these failures is users’ resistance to accept such new technology. The ministry of health in Saudi Arabia has prioritized the embracing of new technologies that could level up the healthcare service, such as the adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) systems. On the other hand, studies that address the acceptance and use of hospital information systems and EMRs in Saudi Arabia from patients’ points of view are scarce. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ acceptance of an EMR system by testing a proposed theoretical model adapted from the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT).
Methods
An online questionnaire was used where questions were based on the proposed model constructs (facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude, and behavioral intention). One hundred sixteen patients responded to the questionnaire. The model was then tested using the structural equation modeling method to identify the factors that affect patients’ intention to use the online services of the EMR.
Results
The analysis of the research model suggested that (1) facilitating conditions that involved patients’ knowledge, skills, and the provided support by the hospital directly influenced the degree of perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the system. (2) PEOU directly affected the EMR’s perceived usefulness (PU). (3) PU directly affected patients’ attitudes (ATT) toward using the EMR. (4) A positive effect is found between ATT and the behavioral intention to use EMR.
Conclusion
The study results have implications for healthcare IT acceptance research and efforts in Saudi Arabia, as to date patients’ perspectives have received little attention. The research also makes a theoretical contribution as it validated the proposed model, which integrated constructs from TAM and UTAUT.
Figure 1
Figure 2