E-Health readiness assessment tools for healthcare organizations in developing Countries: The case of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

E-health readiness is described as the healthcare institutions/communities preparedness for the expected changes resulting from Information and Communications Technology (ICT) programs. In this paper, the assessment tools of e-health readiness that has been created for healthcare institutions are presented in the context of developing countries. The study primarily aimed to assess the e-health readiness of the ICT potential users in a number of medical and paramedical disciplines in the public health sector located in Western Saudi Arabia. The study also identified the potential users’ personal characteristics that may have had a hand in impacting such readiness. Accordingly, the study developed tools through participatory action research to highlight the opinions of partners, review current tools, and develop and propose a conceptual framework, built on extant literature regarding the access to e-health determining constructs. The proposed conceptual framework was examined along with the validity and reliability of the tools, the result of which is addressed in separate papers following the collection of data. In sum, the study presented assessment tools for e-health readiness for healthcare providers and managers in healthcare organizations, in developing countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.