[User acceptance of health telematics applications]

The user acceptance of health telematics in medical care plays a critical role in mediating the success of its implementation. Model assumptions evolving from different fields such as industry, health care and medical psychology are presented, and various perspectives for patients and providers involved in these models are highlighted. The impact of health telematics on health care results from four components: (a) the improvement of work characteristics and communication processes, (b) the enhancement of diagnostic and treatment quality via telematics, (c) technical and economic advantages and (d) communication tools for patient. The evidence concerning clinical, economic and psychosocial criteria within these domains is reviewed according to the published literature. Despite the fact that a considerable benefit of health telematics has been shown in individual studies, the evidence concerning the improvement of health care, the improvement of work and communication processes as well as concerning its clinical and cost effectiveness is still scarce. It is recommended to further integrate health telematics and health service research.