Beyond technology acceptance to effective technology use: a parsimonious and actionable model

Abstract

Objective: To develop and test a parsimonious and actionable model of effective technology use (ETU).

Design: Cross-sectional survey of primary care providers (n = 53) in a large integrated health care organization that recently implemented new medication reconciliation technology.

Methods: Surveys assessed 5 technology-related perceptions (compatibility with work values, implementation climate, compatibility with work processes, perceived usefulness, and ease of use) and 1 outcome variable, ETU. ETU was measured as both consistency and quality of technology use.

Results: Compatibility with work values and implementation climate were found to have differential effects on consistency and quality of use. When implementation climate was strong, consistency of technology use was high. However, quality of technology use was high only when implementation climate was strong and values compatibility was high. This is an important finding and highlights the importance of users' workplace values as a key determinant of quality of use.

Conclusions: To extend our effectiveness in implementing new health care information technology, we need parsimonious models that include actionable determinants of ETU and account for the differential effects of these determinants on the multiple dimensions of ETU.

Keywords: Effective Technology Use; Technology Acceptance; Medication Reconciliation; Patient Safety; Technology Implementation Effectiveness.