Digital technology and intentions to adopt digital e-health practices among health-care professionals

Abstract

Purpose In the present era, digital technology can be used responsibly to provide developed and developing countries with high-quality health-care services to nations. This study aims to explore Saudi Arabia’s intentions to adopt digital health-care practices. Design/methodology/approach To be consistent with previous studies, this study used a quantitative methodology to collect the data from health-care professionals working in Saudi Arabia’s public and private health institutes. Consequently, this study’s findings are based on 306 valid samples. Findings On the one hand, the path analysis reveals that health-care professionals believe in perceptions relating to the use of e-health and technology (PEHT) and experiences regarding internet use (ERIU) and that these have positive and significant effects on attitudes toward the use of e-health and technology (ATEHT) and intentions to use e-health services (ITUES). On the other hand, barriers to using e-health (BUEH) negatively impact ATEHT and ITUES. Finally, ATEHT also has a positive and significant effect on ITUES. Practical implications This study’s findings will help Saudi Arabia’s policymakers and the country’s health ministry to develop policies to provide e-services that health-care professionals can use to improve the quality of the country’s health care, patients’ human rights and social care. Furthermore, this study’s findings are helpful in developing attitudes and intentions toward either e-health or digital health to provide better health facilities to serve Saudi Arabia’s citizens. Originality/value This study empirically confirms among Saudi Arabia’s health-care professionals the PEHT, ERIU and BUEH toward ATEHT and ITUES.