Investigating the antecedents of perceived threats and user resistance to health information technology

Abstract

The problem of physicians and nurses’ resistance to Health Information Technology (HIT) is an issue that could lead to time wastage, budget overruns and HIT implementation failure, leading to substantial financial losses for many organisations. Moreover, it prevents organisations from harnessing the desired benefits of HIT. Therefore, to better manage the implementation of new IT projects, it is imperative to recognise and understand behaviours of resistance. A deeper understanding of user resistance will allow organisations to control and manage such behaviour, helping to ensure the success and continued use of HIT. Information systems (IS) literature indicates that user resistance can arise from a negative user perception of IS in healthcare. The antecedents of these negative perceptions have not been thoroughly examined nor have their relationship with the perceived threat. This study theorises why physicians and nurses perceive HIT as a threat and how those perceived threats lead to user resistance. The study adopts a qualitative method, using within- and cross-case analysis of two in-depth case studies, a military hospital and a public hospital. This study contributes to user resistance research by identifying the antecedents of perceived threats and user resistance. It highlights the differences between the cases due to the differences in culture, management style, and organisational decisions regarding whether to develop HIT in-house or to buy it, and whether these factors influence the antecedents of perceived threats and user resistance. Finally, the study shows how the differences between physicians and nurses and the differences across various levels of physicians influence the antecedents of perceived threats