Socio-Cognitive Assessment of Physicians' Engagement with Electronic Medical Records (EMR): A Pre-EMR Implementation Study in Developing Countries

This study assesses physicians’ intention to engage with electronic medical records (EMR) in the context of pre-EMR implementation in developing countries. We developed a model and corresponding hypotheses grounded in the sociocognitive theory and the decomposed theory of planned behavior. A survey of physicians in the Middle-East was conducted and the results empirically analyzed via PLS. We find that, in developing countries, in pre-EMR implementation stages, the critical predictors of intention to engage with complex technologies such as EMR are physicians’ perceptions of computer self-efficacy, technology support, and effort expectations. Performance expectations and social influences did not have a significant impact on intention to use EMR. Theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed.