Adoption for the implementation of smart card technology in public healthcare

• Published in: Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Malungana, Lario, Motsi, Lovemore
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vanderbijlpark African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS 2022; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd; AOSIS OpenJournals; AOSIS
• Subjects: adoption; Analysis; Decision making; Efficiency; Electronic health records; Epidemics; Evidence-based practice; Health care delivery; Health care reform; healthcare; Hospitals; implementation; Information management; Information systems; Information technology; Innovations; Integrated circuit cards; Medical personnel; Patients; Personal health; Quality of service; smart card technology; Smart cards; Social science research; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary; Structural equation modeling; structural equation modelling; Success; Technology Acceptance Model; Technology adoption; User satisfaction; South Africa; Ghana; smart card technology; adoption; structural equation modelling; implementation; healthcare
• ISSN: 1817-4434; 2415-2005; 2415-2005
• DOI: 10.4102/td.v18i1.1261

This study enhances the critical factors for the implementation of smart card technology (SCT) by proposing a conceptual framework based on the healthcare unified theory of acceptance of user technology model (2008), the DeLone and McLean information systems success model and the diffusion of innovation theory (2003) recommending the strategies to be used. The framework was tested using regression analysis on the collected data from 406 self-administered questionnaires from Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Tshwane District Hospital, Kalafong Hospital and Pretoria West Hospital. The structural equation modelling and principal component analysis methods in Statistical Package for Social Sciences were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study show that seven factors - behavioural intention, system use, information quality, service quality, communication, compatibility and trialability - were significantly accepted to ensure the adoption of SCT in public healthcare. Transdisciplinary contribution The healthcare sector has not fully addressed the technology use for healthcare professionals. However, the sector exploited much for the patients' needs to improve quality of healthcare. Therefore, this study recommends that this framework will contribute towards the implementation smart card technology within the public healthcare. The study will contribute to the implementation of SCT and ensure the quality of service delivery in public healthcare.