Acceptance of Interoperable Electronic Health Record (EHRs) Systems: A Tanzanian e-Health Perspective

The study assessed factors that influence the acceptance of interoperable electronic Health Records (EHRs) Systems in Tanzania Public Hospitals. The study applied a hybrid model that combined the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE). Snowball sampling technique was applied and a total of 340 questionnaires were distributed to selected clinics, polyclinics and hospitals, of which 261 (77%) received questionnaires were considered to be valid and reliable for subsequent data analysis. IBM SPSS software version 27.0 was employed for data analysis. Findings indicated that relative advantage, compatibility, management support, organizational competency, training and education, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, privacy and security concerns, competitive pressure and regulatory framework have positive and significant effects on acceptance of interoperable EHRs. However, complexity and trading & vendor support were found to have non-significant effects on acceptance of interoperable electronic health records. The study has further provided implications that may assist scholars and policy makers in the implementation of interoperable electronic health systems in the health sector.