A multi-method study of factors associated with hospital information system success in South Africa

A combination of interpretivist and positivist techniques was used to develop and refine a conceptual model of factors associated with computerised hospital information system (CHIS) success in South Africa. Data from three case studies of CHIS use in level 2 public sector hospitals were combined to develop a conceptual model containing seven factors associated with CHIS success at hospital level. This conceptual model formed the basis of a fourth case study which aimed to confirm and refine the initial conceptual model. In the third phase of the study, a survey of CHIS use was conducted in 30 hospitals across two South African provinces, each using one of three different CHISs. Relationships between hospital-level factors of the conceptual model and user assessment of CHIS success were examined. A revised conceptual model of CHIS use was developed on the basis of the survey results. The use of a multi-method approach made it possible to generalise results from the case studies to multiple CHIS implementations in two provinces.