Ghana Graduates Conference

An Investigation of Nurses’ Behavioural Intention Towards E-Health Adoption in Ghana

James Tetteh Ami-Narh

Purpose

The health care industry acknowledges the potential of information communication technology (ICT) to improve organizational efficiency, quality of health care, patient safety, decrease paperwork, patient satisfaction and make health care accessible to rural dwellers. As health care organisations in developing countries attempt to take significant initiatives to integrate and expand ICT applications to support performance and service delivery, it is also important to identify the factors which would potentially affect individual professionals’ acceptance decisions. The objective of this study is to understand nurses’ behavioural intentions towards the adoption of E-health technology in Ghana. This study is grounded in literature from health informatics, information technology, psychology, and diffusion and adoption of innovations.

Methodology/Approach

Cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 239 nurses in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana. The study modified and utilised the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as the underpinning to analyse the attitude and behavioural intentions of nurses in Ghana towards E-health adoption. Seven constructs: performance expectancy, effect expectancy, social influence, anxiety, self efficacy, attitude toward using technology and training were tested to ascertain the factors that influence intention towards E-health.

Findings

Out of the 234 valid questionnaires received, 3% had used E-health technology, 17.1% had heard about E-health but did not know much about it, 44.9% knew about E-health but had not used it yet, 35% had never heard about E-health. The reliability values of the seven constructs tested varied between (0.62) and (0.89).

Practical and Policy implications

The behavioural attitudes of nurses towards E-health and the factors that influence adoption decision will help in the deployment and implementation of ICT resources in the health sector. The findings of this study could be used by the health sector in Ghana and other policy makers, non-government agencies and international agencies in their initiatives to plan and implement E-health technology successfully.

Keywords: E-health, Health care, Ghana, Technology Acceptance

Profile

James Tetteh Ami-Narh is a Professional Doctor of Information Candidate, School of Computer and Security Science, Edith Cowan University, Australia.

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