Digital Competency, Innovative Medical Research, and Institutional Environment: A Global Context

Abstract

The use of digital technology accelerates the progress of medical research through improving the quality of clinical trials and medical education. However, empirical evidence on how digital competency contributes to the innovativeness of medical research and influence of institutional environment has received scant attention. Based on the data of 63 nations, this study explores the question of how national-level digital competency impacts the innovativeness of medical research reflected in research publications and examines the moderating effect of government and the economic environment. We find that national digital competency positively impacts the innovativeness of medical research in the focal nation. However, this relationship is positively or negatively modulated by diverse institutional environments. Our study contributes to innovation and institutional perspective literature in the context of digital technologies for medical research.