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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Health Serv.
Sec. Health Policy and Management
Volume 4 - 2024 |
doi: 10.3389/frhs.2024.1458096
Factors influencing health information system acceptance: A cross-sectional study from a low-middle-income country
Provisionally accepted- 1 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine., Nablus, Palestine
- 2 Public Health Program, Faculty of Graduate Studies, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine., Nablus, Palestine
- 3 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Professions, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
- 4 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine
- 5 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Background The Avicenna unified Health Information System (HIS) was implemented by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in 2010 across government hospitals. Despite its potential, the acceptance of Avicenna HIS by healthcare providers remains unclear after 14 years of application. Understanding the factors that influence healthcare provider acceptance is essential for optimizing the system’s success. We investigated factors affecting acceptance of Avicenna HIS among healthcare providers in Palestinian healthcare institutions, focusing on perceived usefulness, ease of use, human factors, technological factors, and organizational support. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Palestine Medical Complex (PMC) in Ramallah, West Bank, where the Avicenna HIS has been fully implemented since 2010. A systematic random sampling was used to select participants, resulting in 300 completed questionnaires. The study utilized a self-administered questionnaire adapted from a structured tool designed by Handayani et al. (2017) based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The questionnaire was validated through expert review and pilot testing, achieving a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. Each selected healthcare provider was contacted face-to-face, and written informed consent was obtained before administering the questionnaire. Results: A total of 300 questionnaires were completed and returned. The study sample included 178 males (59.3%) and 122 females (40.7%). The majority of participants was aged 20-39 years (270 participants, 90%) and held a bachelor’s degree (250 participants, 83.3%). Nurses comprised the largest professional group (153 participants, 51.0%). High levels of perceived usefulness and ease of use were reported, both with mean scores of 4.511 (S.D. = 0.295). Technological factors had a mean score of 4.004 (S.D. = 0.228), while organizational factors scored 2.858 (S.D. = 0.304). Overall acceptance of the HIS was moderately high, with a mean score of 4.218 (S.D. = 0.387). Significant differences in perceived usefulness and ease of use were noted based on gender, age, and experience. Conclusion: This study concludes that both technological and human factors significantly influence the acceptance of HIS among healthcare providers in Palestine. To improve HIS adoption, it is recommended to enhance system functionality, ensure reliable data quality, and provide comprehensive training programs for healthcare providers.
Keywords: Health information system (HIS), Avicenna, healthcare providers, acceptance, Palestine
Received: 01 Jul 2024; Accepted: 09 Sep 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 Sawalha, Fayez, Al Zabadi, Khayyat, Jallad, Amro and Zagha. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Raya Sawalha, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine., Nablus, Palestine
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