Title: Understanding physician acceptance of mobile technology: insights from two telephone interviews in Finland

Authors: Shengnan Han, Ville Harkke, Pekka Mustonen, Matti Seppanen, Markku Kallio

Addresses: Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS); Institute for Advanced Management System Research (IAMSR)/ Abo Akademi University Lemminkainengatan 14 B, 20520, Abo/Turku, Finland. ' Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS); Institute for Advanced Management System Research (IAMSR)/ Abo Akademi University Lemminkainengatan 14 B, 20520, Abo/Turku, Finland. ' The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, PL 713, Kalevankatu 11A, 00101, Helsinki, Finland. ' The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, PL 713, Kalevankatu 11A, 00101, Helsinki, Finland. ' The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, PL 713, Kalevankatu 11A, 00101, Helsinki, Finland

Abstract: This paper sets out to investigate physicians| perceptions and usage regarding a new mobile medical information system in a pilot trial in the Finnish healthcare sector. Two sets of data were gathered in June and October 2003 by telephone interviews. The physicians interviewed had positive perceptions of the mobile system, and started to use it frequently in their work. They showed few negative experiences of using a Nokia Communicator. They favoured using mobile technology as a way to improve spreading medical knowledge. The main contents of the system, the Evidence-Based Medical Guidelines and the Pharmaca Fennica (the pharmacopoeia), were crucial for using the system. Some differences in physicians| behaviour across time were also found. Implications for system improvement are discussed.

Keywords: medical knowledge diffusion; mobile e-health; mobile medical information systems; mobile communications; e-healthcare; electronic healthcare; Finland; physician acceptance; information technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2005.006686

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2005 Vol.1 No.4, pp.380 - 395

Published online: 01 Apr 2005 *

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