Moving hospitals toward e‐learning adoption: an empirical investigation

Abstract

PurposeMedical errors cause a significant number of deaths. Providing training to medical staff can improve the quality of medical care. Hospitals have traditionally used face‐to‐face modality to train staff but they are beginning to adopt e‐learning systems that can easily deliver training at work or to other convenient locations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors leading to e‐learning adoption in hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA framework of factors leading to the adoption decision of e‐learning systems is first proposed. Survey data are collected to empirically test the proposed framework. The samples consist of senior executives and managers in hospitals.FindingsIt is found that three factors including managerial, organizational, and technological exhibit significant influences on the adoption decision. One novel result is that the organizational variable of hospital specialization significantly influences the decision to adopt e‐learning systems.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is one of the first to propose a model of adoption of e‐learning specifically in the context of hospitals. Limitations and strengths of the study and possible future research direction are also discussed.Practical implicationsFrom a practitioner's standpoint, the results of this study can help hospital administrators to accelerate the adoption of e‐learning systems.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to propose a model of adoption of e‐learning specifically in the context of hospitals. It is expected that the model developed can assist to further understand the e‐learning adoption in hospitals.