An empirical investigation of Technology Readiness among medical staff based in Greek hospitals

Abstract

Technology readiness (TR) represents an individual’s mental readiness to accept new technologies. Although the TR scale has been used in many studies, its application in the healthcare context is limited. This paper focuses on identifying the TR profiles of medical staff and to model preference TR variations with respect to computer use, computer knowledge and computer feature demands. The study reports results from a nationwide study conducted in Greece, during a three-year period, which sampled responses from 604 physicians and nurses working in 14 Greek hospitals. Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling analysis is used in order to confirm the structure of the Technology Readiness Index. The results confirm the five groups of the TR taxonomy. Statistical differences were found between classes in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge, ICT feature demands, hours of use per week as well as ICT use performance, but not in the general use of ICT. The results facilitate comprehension of the factors, which influence the use of ICT by medical staff and, in addition, they convey important policy and managerial implications. In conclusion, medical staff should be treated according to its TR taxonomy classes in order to expedite the acceptance and use of an ICT system.

Keywords:

• information and communication technology
• healthcare information systems
• technology readiness
• latent profile analysis
• ESEM

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their special thanks to the medical and nursing staff of all the Greek hospitals who kindly and enthusiastically contributed to the TR survey. They must however remain anonymous but not forgotten. The authors of the article are fully responsible for the results and the opinions expressed in this work. The authors would also like to sincerely thank the reviewers of the article for their helpful suggestions and recommendations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christos D Melas

About the Authors

Christos D. Melas is a lecturer of Information Systems at the Technological Educational Institute of Crete. He holds a B.Sc. (University of Athens), an M.Sc. (Dundee University) and a Ph.D. (Technical University of Crete). His research interests involve medical informatics and technology acceptance and office automation.

Leonidas A Zampetakis

Leonidas A. Zampetakis is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Technical University of Crete and the Hellenic Open University. He holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Biotechnology, an M.Sc. in Environmental Management and M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Engineering Management Systems. His research interests extend in entrepreneurial management, organizational behaviour and measurement theory.

Anastasia Dimopoulou

Anastasia Dimopoulou is a Medical Doctor in Paediatric Surgery. She is currently working at the Penteli General Paediatric Hospital of Athens.

Vassilis S Moustakis

Vassilis S. Moustakis is a professor at the Technical University of Crete, Academic Tutor and Coordinator at the Hellenic Open University in Management and an Affiliated Research Scientist at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas. He has managed numerous R&D projects and he specializes in information systems and management.