Factors Influencing Physicians’ Intentions to Share Electronic Medical Records

abstract

Influenced by shocks such as SARS in 2003, and a growing rural-urban divide, the Chinese government turned to modern information and communication technologies in an attempt to create a healthcare information system (HIS). HIS was aimed at integrating medical data across the complex healthcare infrastructure and sharing of electronic medical records (EMR). However, there are technological, organisational and socio-psychological influences on individuals’ attitudes towards knowledge sharing. Using social capital theory (SCT) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study investigates socio-psychological factors influencing doctors’ intention to share EMR in China. A random survey of 270 physicians across 20 hospitals in Xi’an, Beijing and Shanghai found that the relational (reciprocity) and structural (social trust) dimensions of social capital had an indirect positive influence upon the intention to share EMR, mediated by attitudes toward EMR sharing. These results were similar to the SCT cognitive dimension (loss of knowledge power) influence upon the intention to share EMR. The TPB variables of subjective norms, attitude towards sharing EMR, and perceived behavioural control had a positive relationship with intention to share EMR. Policy implications for health infrastructure are discussed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wansong Zheng

Wansong Zheng is a PhD candidate at the Xi’an JiaoTong University in China. His research focuses on Healthcare Information System (HIS). Arul Chib is Assistant Professor at the Division of Public and Promotional Communication, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Assistant Director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre. Ping Gao is Lecturer in Development Informatics at the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester. His current research focus is on e-government and telecommunications policy in developing countries. Kanliang Wang is Professor at the School of Business, Renmin University of China. He is a leading researcher in China in the area of electronic business, and the Vice Chair of the AIS China Chapter.

Arul Chib

Wansong Zheng is a PhD candidate at the Xi’an JiaoTong University in China. His research focuses on Healthcare Information System (HIS). Arul Chib is Assistant Professor at the Division of Public and Promotional Communication, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Assistant Director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre. Ping Gao is Lecturer in Development Informatics at the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester. His current research focus is on e-government and telecommunications policy in developing countries. Kanliang Wang is Professor at the School of Business, Renmin University of China. He is a leading researcher in China in the area of electronic business, and the Vice Chair of the AIS China Chapter.

Ping Gao

Wansong Zheng is a PhD candidate at the Xi’an JiaoTong University in China. His research focuses on Healthcare Information System (HIS). Arul Chib is Assistant Professor at the Division of Public and Promotional Communication, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Assistant Director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre. Ping Gao is Lecturer in Development Informatics at the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester. His current research focus is on e-government and telecommunications policy in developing countries. Kanliang Wang is Professor at the School of Business, Renmin University of China. He is a leading researcher in China in the area of electronic business, and the Vice Chair of the AIS China Chapter.

Kanliang Wang

Wansong Zheng is a PhD candidate at the Xi’an JiaoTong University in China. His research focuses on Healthcare Information System (HIS). Arul Chib is Assistant Professor at the Division of Public and Promotional Communication, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Assistant Director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre. Ping Gao is Lecturer in Development Informatics at the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester. His current research focus is on e-government and telecommunications policy in developing countries. Kanliang Wang is Professor at the School of Business, Renmin University of China. He is a leading researcher in China in the area of electronic business, and the Vice Chair of the AIS China Chapter.