Exploring factors influencing e-health adoption and use among healthcare professionals in the clinical area in Sub-Saharan Africa: using Q-Methodology and models of technology acceptance

Background: Despite the reported advantages of utilising healthcare technology within the clinical area in developed countries, there has been limited information on factors influencing e-health adoption and use in developing countries including sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study using Q-methodology provided insight into those salient factors that influences these group of participants’ choices about e-health adoption and use in their clinical practices. Methods: This research study utilised models of technology acceptance and use: Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) together with Q-methodology to explore e-health adoption and use among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the clinical area sub-Saharan Africa. Results: Findings from this study identified four divergent views (Factors) that these participants hold about adoption and use of e-health within their respective clinical practices. The first view represented a group of participants identified as “patient-focused e-health advocates” whose choices about using e-health in their clinical practice are informed by their patient/families’ preferences. The second view represented a view identified as “task-focused e-health advocates”. This group of HCPs are driven to adoption and use of e-health by the need to complete their allocated tasks. The third view that emerged represented the “traditionalistic-pragmatists” who recognised that e-health has its advantages within clinical practice, but do not integrate it within their work. This group sees technology as a separate entity to routine clinical practice. The final view represents the “tech-focused e-health advocates”. This group recognise the value that e-health adds to their clinical practice and integrates it into their practice. In addition, this group also look for opportunities to utilise the e-health tools beyond their respective departments. Discussion: The use of Q-methodology as a unique methodology to explore the HCPs subjectivity together with both TAM and UTAUT provided in depth understanding of what influences HCPs e-health adoption and use. The findings from this study identified that personal viewpoints about technologies held by the participants’ influences their choices about e-health. These viewpoints manifests as Factors within this research study. This research study also provided insight to the equivocal tripartite relationship that exist between these HCPs, e-health/clinical practice and the patients/families’. Conclusion: This identifies how HCPs interpret the contribution that e-health makes and how this view influences their clinical practice. In addition, findings from this study will also inform stakeholders when implementing an e-health policy to consider the views of the HCPs who use these technologies