Submission ID 117117
| Issue/Objective | Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs) are widely recognized as a way to improve on access to basic healthcare in in low- and middle-income countries. This is true for Cameroon whose mobile communication infrastructure has recently seen rapid expansion, and following a commitment by government to promote the use of DHTs in the effort to address the country's health challenges. However, DHT projects may require substantial financial investments with no guarantees that users will adopt them. It is therefore imperative that the environment around which these technologies are introduced is understood well, as this could provide insights on measures that can be put in place to optimize the chances of these deployments being accepted by end users. Objective: The aim of this study was to predict the intention to use DHTs by hospital workers' in Fako Division of Cameroon. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among staff of seven hospitals in Fako Division of Cameroon. We used an extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to construct a model for the prediction of health workers' intention to use DHTs. Questionnaire items were grouped under the following constructs of the model: performance expectancy, voluntariness, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, personal innovativeness, resistance to change, and intention to use. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the model's effectiveness in predicting behaviour. |
| Results | Preliminary results: A total of 195 respondents filled out the questionnaire, but only 153 of them answered at least one question relating to every construct of the model. A one-way analysis of variance of the data suggests that there are no significant differences is health workers intention to use DHTs based on sex, highest education level or work experience. However, there are differences in behaviour based on age, job description, attitude towards DHTs, and individual hospitals. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Discussion: A more complete analysis of our UTAUT model will reveal how well the model's constructs predict intention to use DHTs by health workers in Fako Division of Cameroon. This study was funded by International Development Research Centre (Grant Number: 109-981-001). |
| Presenters and affiliations | Denis Nkweteyim University of Buea Peter Achankeng University of Buea Justin Ayuk University of Buea Madeleine Nyamsi University of Buea Christian Tchapga University of Buea Kibu Odette Dzemo University of Buea Ginyu Innocentia Kwalar University of Buea Elvis Asanbeng Tanue University of Buea Moise Ondua University of Ngaoundere Patrick Jolly Ngono Ema University of Ngaoundere Maurice Marcel Sandeu University of Ngaoundere Ndzo Daniel Ughe University of Buea Fuh Austin Ambe University of Buea Jude Dzevela Kong University of Toronto Dickson Shey Nsagha University of Buea Gregory Edie Halle-Ekane University of Buea |
