A Modified UTAUT model for Acceptance to use telemedicine services and its predictors among healthcare professionals at public hospitals: Case of in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia

Debela Tsegaye^1*Mequannint Sharew²Solomon Abuhay Abebe³Agmasie Damtew⁴Kefyalew Tilahun⁵Kassahun Dessie²

• ¹School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Bule Hora University, Bule Hora, Ethiopia
• ²Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
• ³Department of Anesthesia, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
• ⁴Department of Health Informatics, School of Public Health, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
• ⁵Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Introduction: -The shortage of healthcare professionals, long waiting time for treatment, and hard-to-reach geographical locations remained challenging in the health care service delivery in resource-limited settings. To overcome these challenges, healthcare providers are looking to use telemedicine technologies.However, user resistance has consistently been identified as a major obstacle to the successful implementation of telemedicine. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess acceptance to use telemedicine services and its predictors among healthcare professionals at public Hospitals in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.Method: -A cross-sectional study design was employed among total of 627 healthcare professionals working at public hospitals in North Shewa Zone from April 3 to May 1, 2023.The study participants were selected using simple random sampling techniques. A questionnaire, which is adapted from the original instrument developed by Venkatesh's study and several studies regarding the UTAUT model was used. Data was collected using a selfadministered structured questionnaire in English version. The descriptive statistics was estimated using the SPSS version 25, and Structural equation modeling analysis was employed using AMOS V.21 software.Results: -In this study, 601 (95.85% response rate) study subjects were participated. The study has shown that 315 (52.4%) (95% CI: 48.3-56.5) of the participants accepted to use telemedicine in their routine healthcare services. Performance expectancy (β = 0.184, p = 0.001), Effort expectancy (β = 0.183, p < 0.001), Facilitating conditions (β = 0.249, p < 0.001), and Digital literacy (β = 0.403, p < 0.001) had a significant positive effect on an acceptance to use telemedicine services. Age was moderate facilitating conditions (β = 0.400, p < 0.001), and digital literacy (β = 0.598, p <0.001) with acceptance to use telemedicine services.-The healthcare professionals' acceptance to use the offered telemedicine services was promising for the future. Additionally, our research found a significant effects between healthcare professionals' acceptance to use telemedicine services with the predictors except social influence. Facilitating conditions, and digital literacy with acceptance to use were moderated by age. Thus, the health facility better to strength the provided telemedicine technology by giving awareness on the technology's usefulness and its ease of use.