13 April 2007
In the thesis study by Reetta Raitoharju, Master of Economic Sciences, the factors which affect the acceptance of information technology in the social affairs and public health sector are clarified. This study helps to target the training and support services connected with the initialisation of information technology more effectively than at present. Information technology acceptance in the Finnish social and healthcare sector: Exploring the effects of cultural factors, a thesis study in the field of information systems science, shall be examined at Turku School of Economics on Friday, 20 Apr. 2007.
“The increasing use of information technology in the social affairs and public health field is seen to be introducing substantial benefits. Such benefits are, for example, the intensification of the information flow, improved results and reduction in malpractice. Regardless of these benefits, the advantageous use of information technology in the social affairs and health field lags behind practically every other sector,” Reetta Raitoharju points out.
In Ms Raitoharju’s doctoral thesis, factors are reviewed which exert impact on the acceptance of information technology in the social affairs and public health care sector. The accumulation of data for the survey was implemented in cooperation with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. A total of 2,870 employees in the social affairs and public health field in Finland responded to the questionnaire.
Information technology usage difficult, but useful
Of those who responded to the study, 85% reported that they had used information technology in their jobs. Even so, only about one-third regarded the use of information technology as easy. Of those employees who were over 50 years of age, over one-fourth reacted to the use of information technology in their work as difficult. Despite these difficulties, the majority of the respondents considered information technology as useful from the perspective of their jobs.
”Its practical utility from the perspective of their own work is the most important factor affecting amount of use,” Ms Raitoharju avers. ”The perceived ease of information technology use affects the acceptance of information technology only indirectly.”
The grounds for the beneficial application of information technology must be clarified to the employees from the perspective of the entire organization. Even if an employee does not experience a certain information technology application as very useful to his/her own work, it may facilitate somebody else’s work substantially.
Support services must be targeted correctly
IT training is highly important from the perspective of the formation of positive attitudes. Additionally, adequate operational support services exert influence on the acceptance of information technology.
According to the research findings, nurses gain more benefit from the organization of information technology-based support services than, e.g., office employees and physicians. In addition to professional group-related differences, impact is also affected by the hierarchical position, educational background and age of the employees.
According to the results, the younger employees appear to have gained more benefit from the training and support services. This may partly derive from the fact that the training and support services are directed towards individuals who already have basic knowledge of information technology use. The older workers may not necessarily have this. Those in a supervisory position as well as more highly educated employees relate to information technology more positively than the other workers.
”The study indicates that, in initialising information technology, the same strategy cannot be applied throughout the entire organization,” Ms Raitoharju emphasizes. ”Tailoring the training and support services for various target groups is very important.”
The doctoral thesis can be read at:
http://info.tse.fi/julkaisut/vk/Ae4_2007.pdf
Additional information:
Reetta Raitoharju
+358 44 516 1980, reetta.raitoharju(a)tse.fi