JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, video consultations became a common way of delivering care in general practice. Research on video consultations has so far mostly studied (sub)acute care, thereby leaving a knowledge gap regarding the potential of using the technology to manage chronic disease.

Objective:

The aim of this article is to study general practitioners' technology acceptance of video consultations for the purpose of managing type 2-diabetes in general practice. The research model uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) because it elicits user perspectives and has good predictive power of health technology use.

Methods:

An online survey based on TAM measuring four dimensions - Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Attitude (ATT), and Behavioural Intention to use (BI) - was sent to all general practices (n=1,678) in Denmark. The research model was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).

Results:

The survey sample consisted of 425 general practitioners who were demographically representative of the population. The SEM analysis (unstandardized and standardized coefficients) showed that four of five hypotheses in the final research model were statistically significant (p<0.005). PEOU was positively associated with PU. PU had a strong positive influence on ATT. PEOU had a weak, but positive association with ATT. ATT was strongly associated with BI. The association of PU with BI was not statistically significant. The TAM measures were internally consistent (Cronbach alpha: 0.83-0.93). Satorra-Bentler adjustments relaxed the assumption of normality. Goodness-of-fit indices of the TAM model showed acceptable fits for the SEM estimation.

Conclusions:

PU is the primary driver of a positive ATT towards video consultations for type 2-diabetes care in general practice. This suggests that to increase ATT and actual use, decision makers should focus on improving the usefulness of video consultations rather than making it easier to use.