Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe
BACKGROUND: Improving access to health care services in both developed and developing countries through information communication technology (ICT) has been getting particular attention from government, medical researchers and practitioners. This has seen many governments proposing the implementation...
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Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development
2021
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1560-683X2018000100010 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4470 |
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| author | Furusa, Samuel S. Coleman, Alfred |
| author_facet | Furusa, Samuel S. Coleman, Alfred |
| author_sort | Furusa, Samuel S. |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | BACKGROUND: Improving access to health care services in both developed and developing countries through information communication technology (ICT) has been getting particular attention from government, medical researchers and practitioners. This has seen many governments proposing the implementation of healthcare systems that are centred on technology, while researchers and practitioners have been arguing for policies that promote the use of technology in healthcare provision
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe
METHODS: The study was guided by a qualitative research in conjunction with multiple-case studies. Qualitative data were collected using 20 semi-structured interviews from selected hospitals concerning the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals. Hospitals were selected using random sampling, while purposive sampling was used to select the 20 doctors. In addition, the researcher conducted direct observations at five hospitals. Furthermore, data concerning policy issues in Zimbabwe's e-health were collected using document review process. Data from the interviews were analysed using data-driven thematic coding. This solo approach was conducted because the researcher intended to reveal e-health influencing factors that could not be revealed by related literature
RESULTS: This study reveals that the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include ICT infrastructure and e-health technologies, ICT skills and knowledge, technical support, security concerns, lack of basic medical facilities, demographic factors such as age and doctor-patient relationship. External factors are health policy, funding and bureaucracy
CONCLUSION: The idea of e-health is relatively new to healthcare centres in Zimbabwe. Its application has not been sufficiently addressed. The study shows that the success of an e-health system depends on internal and external factors. There is a great potential for implementing e-health in Zimbabwe if these factors are taken into consideration. Otherwise, Zimbabwe will continue to lag behind in the implementation of e-health systems in public hospitals |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4470 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-44702022-06-27T13:49:06Z Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe Furusa, Samuel S. Coleman, Alfred e-health implementation medical doctors public hospitals Zimbabwe BACKGROUND: Improving access to health care services in both developed and developing countries through information communication technology (ICT) has been getting particular attention from government, medical researchers and practitioners. This has seen many governments proposing the implementation of healthcare systems that are centred on technology, while researchers and practitioners have been arguing for policies that promote the use of technology in healthcare provision OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe METHODS: The study was guided by a qualitative research in conjunction with multiple-case studies. Qualitative data were collected using 20 semi-structured interviews from selected hospitals concerning the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals. Hospitals were selected using random sampling, while purposive sampling was used to select the 20 doctors. In addition, the researcher conducted direct observations at five hospitals. Furthermore, data concerning policy issues in Zimbabwe's e-health were collected using document review process. Data from the interviews were analysed using data-driven thematic coding. This solo approach was conducted because the researcher intended to reveal e-health influencing factors that could not be revealed by related literature RESULTS: This study reveals that the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include ICT infrastructure and e-health technologies, ICT skills and knowledge, technical support, security concerns, lack of basic medical facilities, demographic factors such as age and doctor-patient relationship. External factors are health policy, funding and bureaucracy CONCLUSION: The idea of e-health is relatively new to healthcare centres in Zimbabwe. Its application has not been sufficiently addressed. The study shows that the success of an e-health system depends on internal and external factors. There is a great potential for implementing e-health in Zimbabwe if these factors are taken into consideration. Otherwise, Zimbabwe will continue to lag behind in the implementation of e-health systems in public hospitals 2021-06-11T11:49:50Z 2021-06-11T11:49:50Z 2018 Article 1560-683X http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1560-683X2018000100010 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4470 en Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development;Vol.20 ; No.1 open Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development |
| spellingShingle | e-health implementation medical doctors public hospitals Zimbabwe Furusa, Samuel S. Coleman, Alfred Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title | Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in zimbabwe |
| topic | e-health implementation medical doctors public hospitals Zimbabwe |
| url | http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1560-683X2018000100010 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4470 |
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