An Empirical Study of Intrinsic Determinants Influencing Telemedicine Services Adoption by Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Telemedicine services have been confronted with several determinants that hinders their successful implementations. Identifying such determinants for acceptance and use of telemedicine services is a growing concern for healthcare professionals as people nowadays perpetually live their lives through telemedicine services. This current study seeks to investigate the internal determinants that influence health professionals’ intention to utilize telemedicine services in Ghana.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Method:</strong> An integrated theory was derived by combining healthcare technology acceptance theories to examine this quandary. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used in the selection of healthcare professionals from different medical fields whilst using questionnaires for the data collection in four government health institutions. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was utilized in the data analysis.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Selected constructs: perceived usefulness, management strategies, health institution's financial sustainability, perceived ease of use, and communication channels had significant influence on health professionals’ behavioral intention to use telemedicine services. Surprisingly, user characteristics of healthcare professionals was not significant as divulge by the results of the integrated theory.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Findings portray that healthcare professionals were pragmatic when making choices for technology applications and were interested in using telemedicine services. Effective utilization of telemedicine services will aid as a strategy to eradicate hardships in healthcare services delivery in Ghana. The study contributes to empirical knowledge by identifying the vital internal predictive factors affecting telemedicine services among healthcare professionals.</p>