Exploring the Determinants of Mobile Health Adoption by Hospitals in China: Empirical Study

Abstract

Background Although mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to transform health care by delivering better outcomes at a much lower cost than traditional health care services, little is known about mHealth adoption by hospitals. Objective This study aims to explore the determinants of mHealth adoption by hospitals using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework. Methods We conducted an interviewer-administered survey with 87 managers in Chinese public hospitals and analyzed the data using logistic regression. Results The results of our survey indicate that perceived ease of use (β=.692; P<.002), system security (β=.473; P<.05), top management support (β=1.466; P<.002), hospital size (β=1.069; P<.004), and external pressure (β=.703; P<.005) are significantly related to hospitals’ adoption of mHealth. However, information technology infrastructure (β=.574; P<.02), system reliability (β=−1.291; P<.01), and government policy (β=2.010; P<.04) are significant but negatively related to hospitals’ adoption of mHealth. Conclusions We found that TOE model works in the context of mHealth adoption by hospitals. In addition to technological predictors, organizational and environmental predictors are critical for explaining mHealth adoption by Chinese hospitals.

Exploring Public Attitudes toward E-Government Health Applications Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

“…Based on Aljohani and Chandran (2019), m-health likewise is "the use of mobile technologies such as smartphones, tablets, and portable digital devices to improve health practices." Also, e-health refers to "the use of mobile devices-such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and wireless devices-for medical and public health practice" (Ramdani et al, 2020). E-health has different forms, such as mobile health applications (MHAs), hospital information systems (HISs), telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices.…”

“…E-health implementation offers benefits to patients; service providers, such as doctors and nurses; and health-care systems. With e-health, patients can access more reliable health information through the internet, anytime 24/7; obtain a quick initial diagnosis, especially when they cannot reach the hospital; and continuously track and record their health status (Baatia, 2017;Ramdani et al, 2020). Service providers have access to more reliable information based on facts that would support decision-making and allow them to communicate with other colleagues.…”

“…could affect public acceptance and behavior toward e-health applications, which would answer the question, "What are the potential factors that could affect the public acceptance of e-government health applications during COVID-19?" According to works in the literature that share the same scope of this study, factors that could affect public acceptance of e-health applications would be individual perceptions, technical complexities, social influences, trends (Aljohani & Chandran, 2019), ease of use, and system security (Ramdani et al, 2020). The study authors proposed a model and validated it by surveying the public in SA.…”

Experience Sampling and Programmed Intervention Method and System for Planning, Authoring, and Deploying Mobile Health Interventions: Design and Case Reports

“…As a result of a systematic review on mHealth-related apps, Llorens-Vernet and Miró [ 79 ] offer a list of criteria, grouped into categories, aimed at guiding the development of mHealth apps. The systematic review ensured the categories (usability, privacy, security, appropriateness and suitability, transparency and content, safety, technical support and updates, and technology) are consistent with those identified by other authors in related contexts [ 7 - 10 ].…”

“…As an example, clinicians' concerns when considering an mHealth tool include usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, technical issues, content, personalization, convenience, strict data privacy, workload, workflow, communication, management support, and policies [7][8][9]. Such themes align with those highlighted by Chinese public hospitals' managers [10], including perceived ease of use, system security and reliability, top management support, and government policy.…”