Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13(01): 148-160
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1742217
Research Article

Predicting Health Care Providers' Acceptance of a Personal Health Record Secure Messaging Feature

Consuela C. Yousef
1   Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2   King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3   King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
Teresa M. Salgado
4   Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
,
Ali Farooq
5   Department of Computing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
,
Keisha Burnett
6   Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Cytopathology Practice Program, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
,
Laura E. McClelland
7   Department of Health Administration, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
,
Laila C. Abu Esba
2   King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3   King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
8   Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
Hani S. Alhamdan
2   King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
9   Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Sahal Khoshhal
2   King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3   King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
10   Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
,
Ibrahim Aldossary
2   King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3   King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
11   Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
,
Omar A. Alyas
12   College of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland—Medical University of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain
,
Jonathan P. DeShazo
7   Department of Health Administration, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
› Author Affiliations
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Abstract

Background Personal health records (PHRs) can facilitate patient-centered communication through the secure messaging feature. As health care organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia implement PHRs and begin to implement the secure messaging feature, studies are needed to evaluate health care providers' acceptance.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify predictors of health care providers' behavioral intention to support the addition of a secure messaging feature in PHRs using an adapted model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology as the theoretical framework.

Methods Using a cross-sectional survey design, data on acceptance of secure messaging features in PHRs were collected from health care providers working at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs between April and May 2021. The proposed model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS.

Results There were 224 participants: female (66.5%), 40 to 49 years of age (39.9%), nurses (45.1%), and those working more than 10 years in the organization (68.8%). Behavioral intention to support the addition of a secure messaging feature was significantly influenced by performance expectancy (β = 0.21, p = 0.01) and attitude (β = 0.50, p < 0.01), while other predicting factors, such as effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating condition, did not significantly affect the intention. Furthermore, age, years of experience, and professional role did not moderate the relationships.

Conclusion Health care professionals will support introducing a secure messaging feature in the PHRs if they serve the intended purpose. Considering attitude also plays a significant role in acceptance, it is necessary to arrange for training and support, so that caregivers, health care providers, and the patients become familiar with the benefits and expected outcomes of using the feature.

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

The study was performed in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. All procedures involving human participants were approved by the institutional review boards of King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and Virginia Commonwealth University.




Publication History

Received: 31 July 2021

Accepted: 07 December 2021

Article published online:
09 February 2022

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