Acceptance factors of digitalization in hospitals: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitals have identified IT as a suitable mean to cope with various challenges. However, the heterogenous progress regarding digitalization cannot solely be attributed to a lack of investment. Potentially underlying socio-technical causes should be further investigated. The aim of this work is to identify factors that affect the human acceptance of digitalization in hospitals. The goal is to validate practical relevance with affected professional stakeholders as well as quantify the magnitude of the impact. Methods: The Mixed-Methods (MM) approach according to the APA Mixed Methods Article Reporting Standard (MMARS) was based on a structured literature analysis (PRISMA-ScR), expert interviews (COREQ), and a web-based survey (CHERRIES). The survey queries acceptance factors related to digitalization in hospitals. By means of a statistical analysis, correlations with the dependent variable acceptance, effect sizes and variances are investigated. Results: A total of N = 258 hospital professionals participated in the survey, with n = 155 (60.1%) female respondents, and a large share (n = 106, 41.1%) of participants from the field of nursing. Six of the 22 queried factors show a significant impact on acceptance (P