Assessing Task–Technology Fit in a PACS Upgrade: Do Users’ and Developers’ Appraisals Converge?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure users' perceived benefits of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) upgrade, and compare their responses to those predicted by developers. The Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model served as the theoretical framework to study the relation between TTF, utilization, and perceived benefits. A self-administered survey was distributed to radiologists working in a university hospital undergoing a PACS upgrade. Four variables were measured: impact, utilization, TTF, and perceived net benefits. The radiologists were divided into subgroups according to their utilization profiles. Analysis of variance was performed and the hypotheses were tested with regression analysis. Interviews were conducted with developers involved in the PACS upgrade who were asked to predict impact and TTF. Users identified only a moderate fit between the PACS enhancements and their tasks, while developers predicted a high level of TTF. The combination of a moderate fit and an underestimation of the potential impact of changes in the PACS led to a low score for perceived net benefits. Results varied significantly among user subgroups. Globally, the data support the hypotheses that TTF predicts utilization and perceived net benefits, but not that utilization predicts perceived net benefits. TTF is a valid tool to assess perceived benefits, but it is important to take into account the characteristics of users. In the context of a technology that is rapidly evolving, there needs to be an alignment of what users perceive as a good fit and the functionality developers incorporate into their products.

A Scoping Review of the Application of the Task-Technology Fit Theory

“…Measurements [6,9,15] Model [3,17,[22][23][24][25] Summarize [8] Test [26,27] Assess Phenomena Antecedents [5,13,[28][29][30][31] Effects Impact/Benefit [32,33,42,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] (Intention to) Use [4,12,16,[43][44][45][46][47] The two high level categories were used to determine the trends in the type of studies published over time. The cumulative number of studies published for the two highest-level categories was calculated over time and depicted in Fig.…”

Extended use of electronic health records by primary care physicians: Does the electronic health record artefact matter?

“…First and foremost, the greater availability of clinical functionalities explains why certain physicians use their EHR system more extensively because such functionalities would better support or ‘fit’ their main medical tasks than administrative or communicational functionalities. 24 Second, EHR systems that are more comprehensive within any of the three functionality categories are also used more extensively because physicians would perceive such systems to have more usefulness as more administrative, communicational, or clinical tasks would be supported. 6…”

“…23 Similar discrepancies have also been identified between developers’ and users’ appraisals of the technology-task fit of health IT artefacts such as PACS (picture archiving and communication systems) and EHR systems. 24,25…”

Psychometric Evaluation and Workflow Integration Study of a Tablet-Based Tool to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

“…Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection will be guided by the TTF theoretical model , which emphasizes the importance of the fit between technologies and users’ tasks in creating a perceived net benefit to use [ 89 , 105 ] ( Figure 2 ). Standard questions to capture demographics, attitudes, and experiences data will also be asked at the beginning of each interview.…”