8. Conclusions
8.4. Research Contributions and Implications
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In general, the results showed that the performance expectancy of QMS is positively influenced by the expected effort while using QMS, the trust of the solution, and its creator. Also, the effort expectancy of QMS is positively influenced by the factors of computer self-efficacy and the level of innovativeness, but it is negatively impacted by the anxiety of the healthcare professionals. Finally, the performance expectancy and the facilitating conditions were found to have significant positive influence on the behavioral intention to accept and use the QMS by the participated healthcare professionals.
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the issue of waiting times in the healthcare facilities. The previous proposed solutions for waiting times issue concentrated only on the administrative solutions which created a gap in the literature. The proposed integration as an injection for the technology could contribute to the theory in the healthcare domain, and open the door for further technical researches in the area of waiting time within the healthcare facilities.
In terms of the conducted empirical analysis, the research provides multiple contributions to the existing literature. First, this research suggests a new theoretical model based on the integration of different constructs extracted from different theories, including the UTAUT, TAM, and SCT, along with trust and innovativeness as external factors. This integration is significant to expand the explanatory power of the acceptance theories to explore the behavioral intention of professionals to accept technology in healthcare (i.e., QMS). The developed theoretical model can be applied to evaluate the acceptance of QMS or other medical systems in other healthcare organizations, whether in developing or developed countries. Second, the results of the performed analysis could point out that the expected performance benefits of QMS can be enhanced if the end-users trust the creator of QMS. Third, the findings have highlighted the crucial role of users’ innovativeness, experience to use technologies, and the level of anxiety on their belief regarding the difficulty to use of the enhanced QMS. Fourth, the developed model was evaluated using different types of healthcare users, and their opinions were considered to strengthen the results. The proposed integrated model can help to fill the research gap in the related literature since it is one of the preliminary steps to evaluate the acceptance of QMS within the healthcare field, in UAE, and other developing countries.
8.4.2. Practical Implications
The conducted systematic review provided various practical implications for the healthcare domain. First, the review differs from the other reviews by including various technology
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acceptance models, various technologies, and various users. This diversity is valuable for other researchers and decision-makers in different research areas, countries, and settings. For instance, virtual clinics can have great potential through telemedicine, cloud computing solutions, and mobile applications. Decision makers need to provide the necessary support for implementing these solutions to help physicians and healthcare professionals in providing many healthcare services (e.g., consultation, follow-up) without meeting the patient, especially in rural areas. Second, the review shows a gap in the new technology trends in the healthcare sector. The decision-makers and IT corporations need to employ Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and virtual reality (VR) solutions. IoMT can help to digitize the process, develop resource allocation, and provide real-time data to drive decisions. Virtual reality solutions can help to train resident physicians and young nurses to feel integrated with situations they may face in reality. Additionally, such augmented solutions can enable the physicians to access the patients’ reports without leaving their current location, and using hands-free mode (voice commands). Third, the results would assist policy-makers in reviewing the current regulations and policies concerning data confidentiality and privacy. Additionally, these regulations should be announced and published. So, end-users have to be educated and aware of their roles and responsibilities to enhance their acceptance by improving the levels of trust and anxiety.
Fourth, information technology corporations (system analysts and developers) and healthcare organizations can utilize the findings related to the influential factors as a type of lessons learned. Consequently, this review can help to improve the currently implemented solutions and consider enhancements in future technology to be more user-friendly and innovative. Using information technology solutions with fewer efforts can encourage end-users to gain the maximum benefits without fear of making mistakes. Fifth, the review addressed gaps in the technology acceptance literature by considering the regions of implementation. It has been
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observed that inadequate attention is paid to implementing cloud computing, telemedicine, and medical informatics applications in developing countries. Therefore, IT corporations should be prepared to concentrate on the Arab and African countries, as there is potential to implement those new information technologies within the healthcare sector in these countries
With respect to the developed theoretical model and the related empirical analysis, the results also offered various practical implications. First, the theoretical model seems appropriate to investigate the acceptance of technology in the healthcare field. The findings are supportive to ensure successful implementations of new technologies or apply optimizations to the currently implemented technologies. Second, the facilitating conditions have a significant influence on the users’ behavioral intention and actual use. Hence, suppliers of IT solutions need to ensure the availability of the required technical support and resources to boost the acceptance levels in the healthcare context. Third, the performance expectancy is found to be a reliable determinant for the attitude towards using technology and the behavioral intention of professionals in healthcare. So, medical managers and decision-makers in healthcare organizations have to motivate the healthcare professionals to use the system and clarify the expected benefits from that usage. Fourth, computer anxiety is negatively impacting the effort expectancy, while the effort expectancy has a positive influence on the performance expectancy of users. The technology users should be motivated to learn how to use the technology to minimize their level of anxiety and enhance the ability for hassle-free practice to facilitate increasing their performance results and improve the clinical activities. Consequently, it will be beneficial to provide the appropriate training for users or even involve them at the earlier stages of technology implementation projects (i.e., brain-storming sessions and design phase).
On the other hand, the research presented the self-check-in as a novel innovative solution to enhance the experience of patients during their journey in the outpatient department. The results
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of the conducted simulation experiments could confirm the feasibility of the suggested solution.
The solution could minimize the time to complete the whole patient’s journey and other stages.
The results revealed that it would be beneficial to conduct similar simulation experiments for QMS or even other technology solutions in other healthcare facilities in the UAE or other developing countries. The proposed solution can be considered as an initial step for business analysts and system developers in IT corporations to implement innovative solutions to solve the issue of long queues and minimize the expected waiting time in healthcare facilities.
Moreover, the proposed novel solution can help to provide statistical reports for the management of healthcare facilities regarding the patients’ journey duration, and the trends.
Such statistical reports can be linked with dashboards to facilitate the decision-makers and medical managers in changing the clinical processes to enhance the patients’ experience.