Jacob C, Sanchez-Vazquez A, Ivory C, et al.
JMIR mHealth and uHealth. Date of publication 2020 Sep 23;volume 8(9):e20203.
1. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Sep 23;8(9):e20203. doi: 10.2196/20203.
Factors Impacting Clinicians' Adoption of a Clinical Photo Documentation App and
its Implications for Clinical Workflows and Quality of Care: Qualitative Case
Study.
Jacob C(1)(2), Sanchez-Vazquez A(3), Ivory C(3).
Author information:
(1)Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
(2)University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Brugg, Switzerland.
(3)Innovation and Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University,
Cambridge, United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) tools have shown promise in clinical photo
and wound documentation for their potential to improve workflows, expand access
to care, and improve the quality of patient care. However, some barriers to
adoption persist.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand the social, organizational, and
technical factors affecting clinicians' adoption of a clinical photo
documentation mHealth app and its implications for clinical workflows and quality
of care.
METHODS: A qualitative case study of a clinical photo and wound documentation app
called imitoCam was conducted. The data were collected through 20 in-depth
interviews with mHealth providers, clinicians, and medical informatics experts
from 8 clinics and hospitals in Switzerland and Germany.
RESULTS: According to the study participants, the use of mHealth in clinical
photo and wound documentation provides numerous benefits such as time-saving and
efficacy, better patient safety and quality of care, enhanced data security and
validation, and better accessibility. The clinical workflow may also improve when
the app is a good fit, resulting in better collaboration and transparency,
streamlined daily work, clinician empowerment, and improved quality of care. The
findings included important factors that may contribute to or hinder adoption.
Factors may be related to the material nature of the tool, such as the perceived
usefulness, ease of use, interoperability, cost, or security of the app, or
social aspects such as personal experience, attitudes, awareness, or culture.
Organizational and policy barriers include the available clinical practice
infrastructure, workload and resources, the complexity of decision making,
training, and ambiguity or lack of regulations. User engagement in the
development and implementation process is a vital contributor to the successful
adoption of mHealth apps.
CONCLUSIONS: The promising potential of mHealth in clinical photo and wound
documentation is clear and may enhance clinical workflow and quality of care;
however, the factors affecting adoption go beyond the technical features of the
tool itself to embrace significant social and organizational elements. Technology
providers, clinicians, and decision makers should work together to carefully
address any barriers to improve adoption and harness the potential of these
tools.
©Christine Jacob, Antonio Sanchez-Vazquez, Chris Ivory. Originally published in
JMIR mHealth and uHealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 23.09.2020.
DOI: 10.2196/20203
PMCID: PMC7542402
PMID: 32965232
