Smartphone as an Intervention to Intention-Behavior of Patient Care

This study attempts to assist healthcare professionals to better understand the intervention role of smartphones in intention-behavior of patient care.Research Design/MethodologyExploratory in nature, this study uses various literatures and articles published in journals and magazines as well as primary data collected using a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling made it possible to conduct in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals, namely, doctors, nurses, and ward boys from hospitals and clinics of the Punjab region of India. The study uses a data saturation method to realize the adequacy of the sample size, and a grounded theory approach to analyze the interviews.FindingsThis study found a gap between intentions and behavior in patient care among healthcare professionals. A smartphone intervenes in the intention-behavior relationship of patient care in three modes, namely propinquity, applications, and communication. The smartphone propinquity pertains to the physical proximity of the healthcare professionals to the smartphone; the applications refer to those installed in the smartphone; and communication indicates calling and e-communications made using the smartphone.Practical ImplicationsThis study will assist hospital management, governments, and other organizations in drafting a suitable policy for the use of smartphones by healthcare professionals. The manufacturers and software developers of smartphones can deliver devices and software that meet the needs...
Source: Health Policy and Technology - Category: Health Management Source Type: research