| Federal government policies are promoting diffusion of technologies into the healthcare system. If health professionals reject the new technologies planned for the healthcare system, it could result in costly failures, delays, and workforce problems. There is a lack of knowledge about factors that affect technology readiness (TR), defined as the predisposition and attitudes of health professionals regarding new technologies. This study utilized a quantitative survey design to investigate the factors that contribute to TR by examining how a sample of health professionals perceived relationships among TR and four variables of optimism, innovativeness, insecurity and discomfort. The theoretical framework is based on Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovations, Fishbein's theory of reasoned behavior, Kuhn's theory of paradigm shifts, Mick and Fournier's theory regarding paradoxes and technology, and Parasuraman and Colby's theory of TR. Significant correlations were found between TR and optimism as well as TR and insecurity/discomfort; no significant relationship was found between TR and innovativeness. The sample tested high in TR regarding optimism towards new technologies, and showed both positive and negative attitudes towards individual innovativeness. ANOVA analyses found no significant differences in responses based on gender, age or race. Positive social change may result from this study if health institutions utilize the findings to establish training programs for health professionals that promote positive TR through education, provide incentives to encourage early adoption of new technologies, and address insecurities, discomfort and fears regarding new technologies. |
