Investigating the intention to use technology among medical students: An application of an extended model of the theory of planned behavior

• Published date: 01 May 2022
• Author: Vincent Ekow Arkorful,Anastasia Hammond,Benjamin Kweku Lugu,Ibrahim Basiru,Kenneth Khavwandiza Sunguh,Priscilla Charmaine‐Kwade
• Date: 01 May 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2460

ACADEMIC PAPER

Investigating the intention to use technology among medical

students: An application of an extended model of the theory of

planned behavior

Vincent Ekow Arkorful

1

| Anastasia Hammond

2

| Benjamin Kweku Lugu

3

|

Ibrahim Basiru

3

| Kenneth Khavwandiza Sunguh

4

| Priscilla Charmaine-Kwade

5

1

Department of Government and International

Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University,

Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

2

Department of Psychology, University of

Ghana, Accra, Ghana

3

School of Management, University of Science

and Technology of China, Hefei, China

4

School of Public Affairs, University of Science

and Technology of China, Hefei, China

5

School of Humanities and Social Science,

University of Science and Technology of

China, Hefei, China

Correspondence

Vincent Ekow Arkorful, Department of

Government and International Studies, Hong

Kong Baptist University, Baptist University

Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.

Email: saintvincentino@gmail.com

Though the integration of technology into the health sector has been touted as one

of the conduits for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in health and service deliv-

ery, research reports of not only a slow pace of adoption, but also medical practi-

tioner's negative tendency regarding technology adoption. Considering that medical

students are likely to constitute the future work force to use technology for enhanc-

ing accuracy in medical decisions, their intention to use technology constitutes a car-

dinal factor for guiding the implementation of technology-based initiatives in

healthcare settings. By integrating descriptive norm, the study seeks to extend the

theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate correlates of prospective users'

behavioral characteristics relative to technology adoption. A field survey is conducted

with 322 medical students from different medical schools undertaking mandatory

clinicals in health facilities in Ghana. The structural equation modeling analysis of col-

lected data revealed that, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and

descriptive norm, all have significant positive relationship with student's technology

adoption intention. The results of data analysis further revealed that, the core TPB

constructs contributed 26% of the variance in technology adoption intention whiles

the extended variable contributed to increasing the explanation of variance in stu-

dent's adoption intention to 33%. Hence, the inclusion of descriptive norm increased

the explained variance by 7% (ΔR

2

= 7%, p< .001). The results confirm the predictive

potential and appropriateness of the TPB model. Arising from the empirical results,

study implications are discussed.

1|INTRODUCTION

The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) has

been globally acknowledged to be fraught with immense potentials to

anchor professionalism, drive service delivery and enhance sector per-

formance. In recent times, health delivery has been influenced by a

concatenation of technological developments. Essentially, advance-

ments in computer technology, and the availability of accessories

thereof have spurred the development and implementation of innova-

tive strategies for healthcare settings (Arkorful, Shuliang, Muhideen,

Basiru, & Hammond, 2019; Hopson, Simms, & Knezek, 2002). In the

developing world to be precise, the desire to tap into this enormous

resource has compelled governments to make strides toward

implementing policy initiatives meant to drive technology usage

across sectors. To this end, substantial capital has been injected to

provide sustainable support for ICT drive across sectors including the

health sector.

More particularly in Ghana, the information communication tech-

nology for development (ICT4D) has been initiated. Coupled with this,

the electronic health (e-health) strategy intended to drive health

Received: 17 June 2019 Revised: 18 August 2020 Accepted: 31 August 2020

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2460

J Public Affairs. 2022;22:e2460. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pa © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1of12

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2460