Theory of user acceptance of information technologies: an examination of health care professionals

Abstract

TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) has been developed to explain user acceptance of new information technologies. Empirical studies of this and other models however, have based their conclusions on surveys of middle managers or MBA students. Given strong differences between middle managers or MBAs and physicians, we argue that these models may not predict the attitudes of physicians towards new IT very well. Therefore, we propose to extend TAM by adding a new dimension of perceived usefulness: perceived usefulness towards professional status. Our paper suggests strategies that health care decision makers may take to influence physicians' attitudes in a positive way.