Culture matters: A cross-country comparison of technology acceptance

Lack of staff, increasing costs and high workload also force healthcare organisations to find more efficient way of providing care. For example, by cross-border collaboration in innovation development. Technology acceptance might be related with cultural differences but hardly anything is known about this. Aim of this study is to explore eHealth acceptance of COPD patients in the Netherlands, Flanders, UK and Germany. A paper and online questionnaire was distributed by patient organisations and professionals. Questions were based on previously held focus groups and the unified theory of technology acceptance. 412 questionnaires returned (27% on paper, 61% female, mean age 68±8 years, 67% Netherlands, 14% Flanders, 9% Germany, 10% UK). UK patients were least digital experienced (not online in the past week:12% UK, 4% Flanders, 1% Netherlands, 0%, Germany | not in position of smartphone: 30% UK, 20 % Flanders, 14 % Netherlands, 11% Germany | "I expect to be able to use eHealth independently": UK 41%, Flanders 70%, Netherlands 69%, Germany 65%). Poor digital literacy was most common in the UK (33%) and least present in the Netherlands (11%). Motivation to use eHealth is highest in Belgium (72%) and lowest in the UK (42%). Remarkable was the high level of eHealth experience in Flanders (e.g. use of online medical records 86%). Patients from Flanders were less afraid of losing personal contact (28% vs 41% Netherlands, 36% Germany). Although most respondents have digital experience there not all willing to use digital technology. Patients from Flanders were most experiencd eHealth. Patients from the UK are least experienced and also less positive about digital health innovations. There are clear differences in patient perspective not only reflecting differences in healthcare systems but also cultural differences. This information can be used to improve the uptake of eHealth innovations.