Digital transformation of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patients' teleconsultation acceptance and trusting beliefs

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the digital transformation of many services, including healthcare, and access to medical care using teleconsultation has increased rapidly. Thus, a growing number of online platforms have been developed to accommodate patients' needs. This paper examines the factors that predict the intention to use medical teleconsultation by extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) with the three dimensions of trusting beliefs and self-efficacy. A survey was administered to patients who had used a teleconsultation platform during the pandemic period. As one of the largest studies to date, a sample of 1233 respondents was collected and analyzed using a partial least squares approach, often mobilized in the information systems (IS) domain. Furthermore, a deep analysis using all recommended metrics was performed. The results highlight the significance of trusting beliefs, and self-efficacy in the adoption of digital healthcare services. These findings contribute to both theory and practice in COVID-19 research.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of healthcare services, particularly the use of teleconsultation for medical care. This study examines the factors that influence the intention to use medical teleconsultation, incorporating trusting beliefs and self-efficacy into the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). A survey was conducted among patients who utilized teleconsultation platforms during the pandemic, with a sample size of 1233 respondents. The findings underscore the importance of trusting beliefs and self-efficacy in the adoption of digital healthcare services, contributing to both theory and practice in COVID-19 research.