Does the Extended Technology Acceptance Model Apply to Physicians

In previous studies, the technology acceptance model (TAM) [1] has been widely used by information technology researchers to gain a better understanding of information technology (IT) adoption and its use in organizations. While TAM has been applied and tested in academic and corporate settings, involving students, business managers, clerical and administrative types as subjects, few studies have evaluated TAM in the health care environment. This study examines the applicability of the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) [2] in the context of physicians’ intention to adopt Internet-based health applications. Data were collected in a survey of pediatricians to see how well the extended model, fits in the medical sector. Our results partially confirm the model, however significant theoretical aspects were not supported. One of the core perception variables, perceived ease of use, did not predict intention to use in this study. As theorized, the primary predictor variable perceived usefulness was a strong determinant of intention to use. This paper discusses the implications, limitations, and possible explanations for the inconsistencies within the model when applied to such professional users as physicians.