The (un)desirable patient decision support technology in Dutch healthcare : A case study of the perceived adoption climate for health decision technology in The Netherlands

Patient decision support technology provides increasingly more opportunitiesto support disease self-management in the healthcare setting. However, it doescome with a disruptive impact on the health provision between health providerand patient. Recent work on the climate that they are introduced in in TheNetherlands, though, is lacking. Health professionals’ perceptions are informedby that adoption climate, but also shape it in turn. This study explores thethoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of those Dutch healthprofessionals. It explores the perceptions on the adoption climate that isprojected or experienced for patient decision support technology in healthcare.The deployed qualitative approach is based on theory on the adoption space,complemented with an interaction model for e-health implementation. Ittargets both the health professionals’ beliefs on this technology, as theirprojections of the larger adoption climate. The health professionals consist ofgeneral practitioners, medical researchers, pharmacists, chronic pain therapists,nurses, and medical specialists. The analysis circles in on the value of healthprofessional interaction and the hindering force that is encountered inestablished mechanisms and health infrastructure. It furthermore proposes aset of guidelines for developments in patient decision support technology thatboth guides it as well as protects the current healthcare from downsides. Thestudy contributes in providing a first exploration of different healthprofessionals’ perceptions on the apparent adoption climate for patientdecision support technology in The Netherlands. The outcomes and guidelinescan furthermore serve future studies to expand on