Pakistani study on the determinants of wireless technology in healthcare

Abstract

The use of wireless technologies is not new in healthcare. For many years dental chairs and other ophthalmic instruments were communicating patient information to other devices. With the advent of wireless networks, the handheld devices and integration of real time data from medical devices to computer networks is made simpler. In addition to improving patient care, the wireless infrastructure has improved healthcare management, including bed management, billing and pharmaceuticals. While the wireless infrastructure appears to be picking up in developed countries, developing countries such as Pakistan are also embracing these technologies in healthcare for a number of reasons. While private healthcare agencies can afford these technologies in Pakistan, the overall awareness of properly using these technologies and associated benefits appears be relatively low in Pakistan. In order to understand those factors that influence the use of wireless technology, a study was commissioned by this team. A total of 300 physicians were approached for filling in a survey, with 97 useable surveys received. Data analysis clearly shows that physicians are particular about usefulness and outcomes offered by the technology as major determinants. The outcomes reported are quite different from many other studies that reported outcomes in terms of ease of use. This is reported in this study.