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.