LBEF RESEARCH JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Author(s):Gaurab Rana, Dr Pramod Parajuli

Abstract:Nepal has used e-heatlh technologies in various forms for more than two decades. While the technologies are intended to be used for easier access to health services, their usage is still quite a minimum. This study uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to examine the factors that affect the adoption of e-health technologies in the healthcare field. The goal of the study is to determine why people's behavioral intentions (BI) to adopt digital health technologies vary. Using quantitative methodology and surveys distributed to a wide variety of stakeholders, including the public, patients, and healthcare professionals, the study identifies key drivers of BI's adoption of e-health. The data highlights the significance of perceived simplicity of usage. When e-health solutions are easy to use, people are more inclined to utilize them (effort expectancy). Furthermore, adoption rates are significantly impacted by facilitating conditions, such as availability of resources and support networks. Additionally, it was shown that two factors were positive predictors of BI for e-health: personal innovativeness in IT, which indicates familiarity with technology, and a strong technology task fit, which matches features to user expectations. It's interesting to note that BI was less affected by social influence and performance expectations. Although legitimate, privacy concerns did not significantly hinder adoption. To overcome acceptance hurdles and realize the transformative potential of e-health solutions, collaboration among stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, technology developers, and end users is essential. Finally, this study offers useful advice on how to enhance acceptance and maximize the revolutionary potential of digital healthcare solutions, in addition to informative data on the factors influencing the uptake of e-health technology.

Keywords:Digital Health, User Adoption, Technology Acceptance, Behavior Intention, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Technology Task Fit, Personal Innovativeness in IT, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technolog