Download This PaperReadiness of Healthcare Providers for e-Hospitals: Cross-sectional Analysis in China
25 Pages Posted: 6 May 2020
Date Written: April 11, 2020
Abstract
The growth and development of smartphone and e-health technologies has enabled the employment of extended care hospitals such as e-hospitals in China in order to facilitate the success of a primary healthcare center (PHC) based integrated delivery model. Although the adoption of this innovation in healthcare delivery is essential, few studies have directed their research towards understanding the perspectives of healthcare providers. This study aims to identify the current readiness of healthcare providers to adopt e-hospital technologies, determine factors influencing their adoption, and describe perceived facilitators and barriers in regards to e-hospital use. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September of 2019 in Western China. This study included a self-administered questionnaire that was used to assess participants socio-demographic characteristics, online medical practice, willingness to use e-hospitals, and perceived facilitators/barriers to using e-hospitals. Multivariate regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate independent factors associated with e-hospital use. The survey population consisted of 2,298 medical professionals from a tertiary hospital, secondary hospital, PHC, and private hospital. Overall, 86.3% had a positive response toward the usage of e-hospitals. Age (P<0.05), familiarity with e-hospitals (P<0.001), and prior work experience in online healthcare settings (P<0.001) were associated with participants' readiness to use e-hospitals. Gender, education level, professional level, the tier of the affiliated hospital, and workload were not statistically associated. Healthcare providers who had positive attitudes towards e-hospitals considered improved efficiency, patient satisfaction, communication among physicians, increased reputation, and alleviated workload to be advantages of adoption. The participants who were unwilling to use e-hospitals perceived lack of time, insufficient authenticity/reliability, and underdeveloped policies as potential challenges. Improving operative proficiency in electronic devices, accommodating to work schedules, increasing familiarity, and regulating practices will improve the readiness of healthcare providers to use e-hospitals.
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