JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The status quo of the digitalization of companies and institutions is usually measured using maturity models. However, the concept of maturity in general practice is currently unclear and herewith it the question of how maturity can be measured. There is a lack of empirical work on the dimensions and sub-categories of digital maturity that provide information on the assessment framework.

Objective:

The aim of the study is to answer the question of how digital maturity can be measured in general practice. To this end, the study analyzes how many and which dimensions are associated with digital maturity and how many and which sub-categories describe the measurement dimensions as variables to be assessed.

Methods:

An explorative, qualitative research design based on semi-structured expert interviews was used to investigate the dimensions of digital maturity. Twenty experts from various areas of the healthcare sector (care providers, interest groups, healthcare industry and patient organizations) were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed based on a content-structuring analysis according to Kuckartz and Rädiker using MAXQDA software.

Results:

Six dimensions with a total of 26 sub-categories were identified. Four dimensions with a total of 16 sub-categories I) digitally supported processes, II) practice staff III) organizational structures and rules and IV) technical infrastructure were deductively linked to digital maturity. In addition to the use of digital solutions, these included, for example, individual, organizational, and technical capabilities and resources of the medical practice. The two further dimensions V) benefits and outcomes and VI) external framework conditions of the medical practice were identified inductively with a total of ten sub-categories. Digital maturity was associated with the beneficial use of digitalization, for example with efficiency benefits for the practice, and external framework conditions were associated with influencing factors such as the local patient situation in the medical practice.

Conclusions:

The results indicate that digital maturity is a multidimensional construct that is associated with many dimensions and variables. It is a holistic approach with human, organizational, and technical factors and concerns the way digitalization is used to shape patient care and processes. Furthermore, it is related to the maturity of the organizational environment. To measure the level of digital maturity in outpatient care as accurately as possible, maturity models should therefore be multi-layered and take external influencing factors into account. Future research should statistically validate the identified dimensions. At the same time, correlations and dependencies between the measurement dimensions and their sub-categories should be analyzed.