Factors impacting on inpatient portal acceptance and use in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey (Preprint)
Authors: Alshoumr Bader , Yu Ping , Hailey David , Bindayel Fahad , Alanazi Salman , Alshammary Shaleh 
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Inpatient portal have potential to increase cancer patient engagement and enhance their communication with healthcare providers inside tertiary hospitals. However, their adoption is still poor. Also, there is a knowledge gap about what factors influence their acceptance and use of this technology.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the factors predicting acceptance and use of an inpatient portal by cancer patients in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Eight independent factors were hypothesised as the predicting factors for cancer patients’ acceptance of an inpatient portal. These included perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitude, social influence, self-efficacy, preference to seek health information, functional ability and perceived health threat. These factors, together with demographic variables (i.e. gender, age, and education), were examined in regard to their impact on cancer patients’ acceptance and use of an inpatient portal. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on the validated items from the prior research surveys to measure each factor. The empirical data was collected in a cross-sectional survey of cancer patients using a convenience sampling method conducted in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. The structural equation modelling method was used to test the reliability, validity and the causal-relationships of the model constructs.

RESULTS

The cancer patients’ attitude, perceived health threat, preference to seek health information and demographic factors (i.e., age and gender) were the most significant predictors of their intention to use the inpatient portal. Their attitude towards using the portal was significantly determined by perceived usefulness and ease of use of the portal. Perceived ease of use, social influence and preference to seek health information had statistically significant, positive impacts on perceived usefulness. While, patients’ self-efficacy and functional ability did not influence patients’ perceived usefulness of the portal. Patients’ perceived self-efficacy to use the portal, perceived functional ability and preference to seek health information influenced their perception of ease of use of the portal. Notably, despite patients’ positive intention to use the portal, this intention was not impacted by the social influence factor and did not translate into actual portal use for these critically ill cancer patients during hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The study developed a theoretical model to predict cancer patients’ acceptance and use of inpatient portal during hospitalization. The results suggest considering a patients’ physical and cognitive ability to design the digital solutions to meet their critical information and communication needs. The promotion strategy should focus on introducing the most valuable features and services of the portal that increase patients’ engagement in the care process.