Intention to use telemonitoring for chronic illness management and its associated factors among Nurses and Physicians at Public Hospitals in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia: Using modified UTAUT-2 model

Abstract

Abstract Background: Chronic illnesses require continuous medical attention as well as patient self-management. Telemonitoring has the potential to maximize professional productivity, continuous medical attention and improve patient self-care management as well as reduce hospitalization and cost of care using these applications. Despite all the benefits, little is known about nurses' and professionals’ intentions to use telemonitoring technologies in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed nurses' and professionals’ intention to use telemonitoring and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 randomly selected nurses and physicians working at Public Hospitals in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. The sample size was allocated proportionally to each hospital and the profession based on the number of staffs was applied to give a chance for all. A simple random sampling technique was applied to obtain the sample. Trained data collectors collected data using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for further cleaning and descriptive statistical analysis. The extent of the relationship between variables was determined using AMOS 23 structural equation modeling (SEM). Result:The response rate was 732/781 (93.7%) of them 55.7% (408/732) were male, and two-thirds 67.6 % (495/732) of participants were nurses. The proportion of intention to use telemonitoring was 55.9% with 95.0%: CI: [52.3-59.6]. Performance expectancy (β=0.366, 95% CI: [0.250,0.482]), effort expectancy (β=0.145, 95% CI: [0.053, 0.231]), facilitating condition (β=0.261, 95% CI: [0.146, 0.380]) and habit (β=162, 95% CI: [0.064, 0.262]) has a positive effect on the intention to use telemonitoring. The relationship between effort expectancy and intention to use telemonitoring was positively moderated by age and gender. Being young and males were found to be positive influencers in the relationship. The relationship between facilitating conditions and intention to use telemonitoring was positively moderated by age and significantly associated with adults. Conclusion More than half of nurses and physicians at public hospitals in Bahir Dar has the intention to use telemonitoring. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, and habit were statistically significant factors of intention to use telemonitoring.