Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

Healthcare IT Utilization and Penetration among Physicians Novel IT Solutions in Healthcare - Use and Acceptance in Hospitals and Private Practice

Abstract

Vogt F, Seidl F, Santarpino G, van Griensven M, Emmert M and Pförringer D

Background: Healthcare IT (HIT) gains more and more public attention as well as clinical relevance. A growing number of patients and physicians increasingly relies on IT services to monitor and support wellbeing and recovery both in their private as well as in professional environment. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the current status of HIT use and penetration among physicians in hospitals and private practices as well as future expectations and demands regarding HIT. Material and methods: Using clinical networks all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland, mainly in the cities of Nuremberg, Vienna and Munich, we addressed physicians to answer a standardized internet-based questionnaire consisting of 15 multiple choice and two open questions sent out via email. Parameters were evaluated in 5 categories: general use, frequency, acceptance, needs and future. An overall of 234 physicians (response rate 83.6%) have answered the online questionnaire. Results: Physicians with a median age of 45 (range 25 > 60) responded and filled out the entire questionnaire. A significant correlation between parameters gender, age and level of training (resident, specialist, consultant etc.) can be proven. Whereas male physicians tend to use HIT significantly more in their professional life than their female colleagues, it is clear that this is not the case when it comes to private use of equivalent applications. Furthermore, the use of technology varies widely across age as well as level of training. Whereas increasing age among physicians is associated with a decreasing level of application of HIT, a higher training level is notably accompanied by an increasing level when it comes to a professional application of these tools. Use of data, gained with HIT is regarded as a necessary and positive standard. Most users assume the importance of HIT to grow in the future in parallel to their current use. A clear lack of trust in terms of medical data storage is recognized on both patient and physician side. In the majority of cases, physicians tend to use their own IT over the hospitals’, showing a clear need for improvement and technological innovation within the hospitals. Conclusion: The results show a clear gap between private and professional use of IT for medical purposes. HIT growth is by the majority regarded as key development driver, the future healthcare development will head towards. We conclude that the use of IT application generally depends strongly on age, gender as well as role within the hospital and type of hospital.