Relevance and Micro-Relevance for the Professional as Determinants of IT-Diffusion and IT-Use in Healthcare

Abstract

User-adoption of new IT-applications is the proof-of-the-pudding when it comes to IT-success in healthcare. As a consequence, many studies are made of the role of the users in the introduction of new IT in both theory and practice. This paper introduces relevance and micro-relevance as key determinants of IT-diffusion and IT-use, respectively. Relevance is the degree to which the user expects that the IT-system will solve his problems or help to realize his actually relevant goals. Micro-relevance is the degree to which IT-use helps to solve the here-and-now problem of the user in his working process. Central to both concepts is the degree to which goals or problems that IT is related to are actually pressing in nature. Goals and problems that are less pressing do not result in relevance. Goals that are pressing may still not be micro-relevant on the level of executing work. A study amongst 56 general practitioners (GPs) on the introduction of an Electronic Prescription System (EPS) demonstrated the importance of relevance and micro-relevance. To these GPs, time-pressure and communication with pharmacy and hospitals were highest on the agenda. In that light, the innovation of EPS was not relevant. Lack of micro-relevance level obstructed intensive use of EPD by those who had introduced the innovation. As a consequence, those who adopted the EPD only used it sparsely.