Using actor network theory to understand network centric healthcare operations

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Healthcare
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• E-health adoption and ICT in healthcare are governmental priorities in Europe and the US.
• Network-centric healthcare operations are proposed to maximize ICT benefits.
• Critical examination of issues, barriers, facilitators, and success factors is needed for effective e-health implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical success factors for e-health and ICT in healthcare.
• To propose an appropriate theoretical framework for analyzing healthcare dynamics.
• To advocate for the use of Actor Network Theory (ANT) as a cognitive lens for e-health research.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and theoretical proposition.
• Literature review on e-health, ICT in healthcare, and Actor Network Theory.
• Argumentation for ANT's suitability in capturing healthcare complexities.

Main Results:

• E-health implementation requires understanding complex healthcare dynamics.
• Existing models may not fully capture the intricacies of ICT integration in healthcare.
• Actor Network Theory offers a comprehensive perspective for analyzing these complexities.

Conclusions:

• Actor Network Theory (ANT) provides a robust framework for understanding and navigating the challenges of e-health adoption.
• ANT can illuminate the critical success factors, barriers, and facilitators in healthcare ICT implementation.
• Adopting ANT as a theoretical lens is crucial for realizing the full potential of e-health initiatives.