Perception and Acceptance of Health Informatics Learning among Health-Related Students in Jordan and Palestine

Abstract

This study used a tailored version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess Jordanian and Palestinian students' attitudes and beliefs toward learning of health informatics (HI), determine their intention to learn, assess the needed HI skills, and determine reasons that could motivate students to study HI. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate senior students in health — oriented disciplines in four universities in Jordan and Palestine. A sample of students was emailed the link to the web-based questionnaire and was voluntarily requested to fill the questionnaire. A total of 891 students responded to the study questionnaire. The majority (82.7%) of students were interested in learning HI. About 62.8% of students reported that they will take a set of HI courses as a pathway in their undergraduate degree if they are given such an opportunity. More than 70% of students perceived HI learning as useful. About three quarters of students had a behavioral intention to enter the HI program and about two thirds (75.4%) reported that they are enthusiastic about the use of health information technology in patient care in future medical practice. Higher ratings on perceived usefulness (r = 0.73), perceived ease of learning and use of HI (r =0.76), attitude toward HI (r =0.83), enabling environment (r = 0.44) were significantly associated with higher behavioral intention to learn HI. In conclusion, students perceived HI learning as useful and easy, had a positive attitude toward HI, and had a high intention to learn HI.