The Use of Theoretical Constructs in Studying Health Information Technologies

Theoretical constructs are the foundational building blocks of theories and are utilized as a way of understanding and explaining phenomena. The use of theory and theoretical constructs to study health information technologies have varied based on research communities, research goals, and types of technology. Within the HCI community, there has been a long history of using theoretical constructs to help us understand the use of technology. In this position paper, drawing on our previous research in healthcare settings, I would like to discuss the role that theoretical constructs can play in helping us better understand the use of health information technologies. In particular, I am interested in exploring not only how these constructs can help us better understand issues but also how we can use these constructs in designing and implementing health information technologies. Author