The relationship between physicians' capabilities and their attitude to change and their willingness to accept telemedicine technology

The extent and distribution of population across the country has made telemedicine technology an effective and comprehensive way to provide health services by physicians. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the capabilities of physicians and their willingness to accept telemedicine technology.

The population of this analytical-survey study, consists of physicians in Amiralmomenin Therapeutic Research Training Center, Semnan. A questionnaire was used to collect data which were then analyzed using SPSS 19 and SMARTPLS 2 (beta) to test the research hypotheses .

There was a statistically significant positive and direct relationship between the managerial [path coefficient: 0.141] and technical [path coefficient: 0.135] capabilities of physicians and their willingness to accept telemedical technology. In addition, managerial [path coefficient: 0.335] and financial [path coefficient: 0.211] capabilities have an indirect and significant effect on the degree of willingness to accept telemedicine technology through strengthening the physicians’ viewpoint about the change. [path coefficient: 0.301.]

It is recommended that health care administrators and managers of medical education centers, prior to the implementation of telemedicine medical services and investment in related hardware, increase the capabilities of physicians through strengthening their abilities in management, working with information and communications technology, finance and investment. This will improve the attitude of physicians towards change, and facilitates the acceptance of technology.