Health Informatics J. 2017 Aug 1:1460458217725903. doi: 10.1177/1460458217725903. [Epub ahead of print]
Listen before you leap: Sri Lankan health professionals' perspectives on m-health.
Abstract
Given the increasingly widespread use of mobile phones in the developing world, the application of this technology for healthcare (also referred to as m-health) has tremendous potential. However, there is a need for more research on factors that influence the sustainable and scalable adoption of m-health in developing countries. To fill this gap, in this study, drawing on the theory of diffusion of innovation, we conducted in-depth interviews with 29 health professionals in Sri Lanka to understand their views on the benefits and barriers to adopting m-health. Participants had mixed views on the adoption of this technology. Reasons for m-health adoption included efficiency and usefulness in emergency situations. Barriers to adoption included risks for miscommunication/misinterpretation and lack of systems/policies for implementing m-health technology. With regard to the innovation-decision process, most participants appear to be in the stages of "persuasion" and "decision"; with regard to degree of innovativeness, interviewees comprise a mix of "early adopters" and "laggards." Assuming mobile health apps afford improvements in health outcomes for developing countries, contextual factors in each national setting should inform design and implementation of m-health interventions.
KEYWORDS:
consumer health information; ehealth; healthcare service innovation and IT; mobile health; telecare
- PMID:
- 28825329
- DOI:
- 10.1177/1460458217725903
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