Physician's acceptance of information technology (IT) across IT innovation diffusion status

The utilization of information technology (IT) in heath care has been realized as the way of achieving managerial and clinical work efficiencies. The interactions between IT and users produce multi-dimensional effects. Thus, this study attempts to understand how physicians accept a new IT and what the determinants of physicians' IT usage behaviors are.; This study finds that the technology acceptance model (TAM) with subjective norms (SN) shows the strongest ability for explaining physicians' IT usage behaviors across IT diffusion status. 65% of the variance of behavioral intention (BI) is explained by all determinants. In comparisons of path significances across IT diffusion status, this study finds the significance of the paths varies across IT diffusion status. Current adopters are considering their attitudes (A) as the most important factor and internalize the effect of social pressures (i.e., SN) through perceived usefulness (PU). Pre-adopters also internalize the influence of SN in using IT while they are considering both A and SN as the direct factors for explaining BI.; Physicians' perceptions of IT innovation characteristics are the antecedents of PU for explaining physicians' BI to adopt or continue to use a new IT innovation. The antecedent model shows the enhanced ability for explaining IT usage behaviors compared to TAM with SN since compatibility, image and result demonstrability are the significant determinants of PU. As a consequence, value consistency in using IT, the observable results, and their encouraged social status from using IT can result in physicians' use of IT for achieving their goals in work.; PU in the antecedent model was the most important determinant of BI. This result suggests that physicians are driven to accept or continue to use a new IT innovation primarily on the basis of their perception of instrumental function in use of IT.; In conclusion, this study contributes to theory by exploring and identifying the relationships for explaining physicians' IT usage behaviors. These findings can contribute to designing behavioral modification strategies for effective and efficient use of IT in the health care field.