Telemedicine Adoption for Healthcare Delivery: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare services using telecommunication and information technologies. The adoption of telemedicine has been promoted by advancements in technology, increased accessibility to the Internet, and the need for convenient and efficient healthcare delivery. Understanding the theoretical foundations of telemedicine adoption among healthcare providers and patients is crucial for successful acceptance and utilization. This systematic review aims to explore the theoretical frameworks and models that have been widely utilized to understand telemedicine adoption among healthcare providers and patients. A systematic search was conducted across two popular electronic databases, resulting in the inclusion of 21 relevant studies. The selected studies were analyzed to identify the theoretical perspectives employed in telemedicine adoption research. The key findings reveal that the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance, and the Use of Technology (UTAUT) model are the most widely models used to illustrate the factors affecting telemedicine adoption among healthcare providers and patients through different countries and telemedicine contexts. Understanding these theoretical models is crucial for policymakers and healthcare professionals as it can provide insight into the key factors influencing the widespread adoption of telemedicine. This knowledge can serve as a guidance for crafting initiatives, and tailoring policies to promote the successful acceptance and utilization of telemedicine among providers and patients in diverse healthcare environments.