Factors influencing attitudes towards, and the use of, information technology in the emergency department.

Background: In order to make better use of information in the Emergency Departments (ED) various information systems have been developed. However, there are a number of factors that may influence the use of these systems. As there has been little research on the use of information technology (IT) in the ED, this research aims to investigate users' perceptions of Emergency Department Information Systems (EDIS) to determine various factors that may influence users' attitudes towards, and the use of, IT in this department. Methodology: This research consisted of two studies. In the first study, a qualitative approach was applied. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews, and framework analysis was used to analyse data. A quantitative approach was adopted for the second study, and questionnaires were distributed in three EDs in England. Finally, between-methods triangulation was used to show how the results of the qualitative and quantitative studies confirmed and completed one another. Findings: The results of the qualitative study showed that several factors could influence users' attitudes towards using IT in the ED and subsequent IT utilisation. These factors included the characteristics of users, their tasks, systems, the environment in which they worked, and the impact of technology. The quantitative study showed that the most important factors were the perceived individual impact of technology, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm, and users' computer experience. These factors contributed to approximately 50% of variance in the users' attitudes. Conclusion: A number of factors should be considered to improve users' attitudes towards using IT in the ED. The perceived individual impact of technology is the most important factor in determining user attitude towards using IT. ED staff are more likely to view IT systems positively and use the systems properly, if they can see direct benefits arising from their use.