Predictive factors of physicians' satisfaction with telemedicine services acceptance

Abstract

Despite the significant increase in telemedicine services technology, its adoption and use have been quite slow in some healthcare settings. It is generally accepted in today's globalizing world that the success of telemedicine services relies on users' satisfaction. Satisfying physicians and patients is one of the crucial objectives of telemedicine success. This study seeks to evaluate physicians' satisfaction with telemedicine services adoption and utilization using the technology acceptance model. A structured questionnaire based on the construct of technology acceptance model was used to solicit for data from participants in four different government health institutions. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select healthcare professionals from various medical fields. Structural equation modeling was utilized in the data analysis. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of telemedicine services were found to influence physicians' behavioral intentions. This resulted in increased efficiency, quality of services, quality patient care delivery, and satisfaction among physicians in using telemedicine services. We noted that the adoption of telemedicine services in clinical settings depends on physicians' and patients' satisfaction with the use of the service. The study contributes to empirical knowledge by identifying the vital predictive factors affecting telemedicine services satisfaction among physicians.

Keywords: perceived ease of use; perceived usefulness; physician satisfaction; technology acceptance model; telemedicine.