Original Research - Special Collection: 17th IBC Conference
The adoption of telemedicine by healthcare practitioners in South Africa
Submitted: 27 September 2024 | Published: 13 January 2025
About the author(s)
Margaret Cullen, Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South AfricaAndre Calitz, Department of Computing Sciences, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Sasha Boucher, Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Prashna Buddan, Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Abstract
Orientation: Telemedicine plays an important role in patient-centred healthcare, diagnosing and treating diseases and developing treatment plans. It includes both provider-to-provider and provider-to-patient communication, which can be synchronous (telephone and video) or asynchronous (messaging and electronic consultations).
Research purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic sparked interest and awareness of telemedicine; however, there is a need to explore the adoption of telemedicine in the context of South Africa. This study examined South African healthcare practitioners’ adoption of telemedicine using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model.
Motivation for the study: The adoption of telemedicine by healthcare practitioners in South Africa has not been extensively researched.
Research design, approach and method: A positivistic approach using quantitative methods of analysis was adopted. The target population was registered healthcare practitioners practising in South Africa and 96 healthcare practitioners participated in the study.
Main findings: The study established that the independent factors of Performance Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, Social Media Technology and Attitude all have a significant positive relationship with the dependent factor, Behavioural Intention to adopt telemedicine.
Practical and/or managerial implications: The need for healthcare practitioners to be trained in telemedicine technology is an essential prerequisite for its adoption.
Contribution and/or value-add: Gender significantly influenced the dependent factor, behavioural intention to adopt telemedicine. Males rated the behavioural intention more positively than females. The theoretical contribution of the study is the extension of the UTAUT model for telemedicine adoption.
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