Affecting factors of cloud computing adoption in public hospitals affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences: A cross-sectional study in the Southeast of Iran

Abstract

Objective Health care organizations require cloud computing to remain efficient and cost-effective, and provide high-quality health care services. Adoption of this technology by users plays a critical role in the success of its application. This study aimed to determine factors affecting cloud computing adoption in public hospitals affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study was performed in 2017. The study population comprised information technology and hospital information system authorities and hospital information system users. The sample consisted of 573 participants. The data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results The mean score of environmental, human, organizational, technological, and intention dimensions of cloud computing adoption was 3.39 ± 0.81, 3.27 ± 0.63, 3.19 ± 0.71, 3 ± 0.43, and 3.55 ± 1.10, respectively. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between intention of cloud computing adoption and environmental ( R = 0.521, p = 0.000), organizational ( R = 0.426, p = 0.000), human ( R = 0.492, p = 0.000), and technological dimensions ( R = 0.157, p = 0.000). Conclusions Benefits of cloud computing adoption, relative advantage, and competitive pressure were identified as the most influential factors in accepting cloud computing. Simplifying the users’ understanding of this technology and its application, improving the staff's technical capabilities, promoting executive managers’ understanding of the nature and functions of cloud computing, and fully supporting and increasing governmental mandates for adoption of new technologies are necessary for facilitating the adoption of cloud computing in given hospitals.