Predicting nurses' acceptance of radiofrequency identification technology.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Nursing Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology enables object and individual scanning without line-of-sight, offering benefits in healthcare for patient safety and operational efficiency.
• Successful implementation of RFID in healthcare hinges on user acceptance, yet some nurses express concerns about surveillance, likening it to "Big Brother."

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of nurses' attitudes, privacy concerns, subjective norms, controllability, and self-efficacy on their behavioral intention to use RFID technology.
• To identify key predictors influencing nurses' adoption of RFID systems in a hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A predictive study utilizing a theoretical model was conducted.
• A web-based questionnaire with validated questions was administered to 106 US Registered Nurses (RNs).
• Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships between independent variables and the dependent variable (behavioral intention).

Main Results:

• The combined independent variables accounted for 60% of the variance in nurses' intention to use RFID technology.
• Positive attitudes towards RFID and subjective norms were significant unique predictors of behavioral intention.
• Privacy concerns, controllability, and self-efficacy did not significantly contribute to nurses' intention to use RFID.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' attitudes and subjective norms are crucial drivers for the adoption of RFID technology in healthcare.
• While nurses may have concerns, their attitudes and social perceptions play a more significant role in their intention to use RFID than privacy or self-efficacy.
• Targeting improvements in attitudes and leveraging social norms can enhance the successful implementation of RFID systems in nursing practice.