Understanding the Acceptance of RFID in the Healthcare Industry: Extending the TAM Model

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the factors that affect the adoption of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the healthcare industry. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is extended by including the determinants of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, as well as the security and privacy variables. Data was collected from 183 healthcare organizations, and was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis. The results showed that subjective norm, image, job relevance and output quality have direct and positive relationships with perceived usefulness. Facilitating conditions of the healthcare organizations have positive and direct relationships with the perceived ease of use of RFID. Both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are found to have significant relationships with the healthcare organizations’ intentions to adopt RFID. This research proposed and empirically examined a new technology adoption model that explains RFID adoption decisions in the healthcare industry. The research findings could be used to assist decision makers of healthcare organizations to formulate strategies to improve their RFID system implementation.