User evaluations of a Dementia case management information system: A cross-sectional study

To evaluate the acceptability of a recently developed electronic Dementia Case Management Information System (DCMIS) following hands-on use by dementia case managers.

Dementia case managers from 28 community-based dementia care centers who had previously provided feedback about needs and wants of an electronic case management system were invited to participate (N =30). Following a training session, participants used the DCMIS to assess patients in two scenarios typical for case managers at our centers. Participants then evaluated their experience with a researcher-developed 25-item Technology Acceptance Model questionnaire (scored from 1 to 5). Multiple linear regression analysis examined significant associations between technology acceptance and variables of demographics and external factors (system quality and information, and job relevance) to identify predictors of acceptance of the DCMIS.

Acceptance and perceived usefulness of the DCMIS were high; mean scores were 4.05 (SD,0.62) and 4.15 (SD, 0.67), respectively. Job relevance was a significant predictor of perceived usefulness (β = 0.721, P <.001). System quality and information quality were significant predictors of perceived ease of use (β = 0.355, P =.03 and β = 0.395, P =.02, respectively); job relevance was also a predictor for behavioral intention to use (β = 0.487, P =.03).

The quantitative assessments of the DCMIS by the dementia case managers demonstrated most found the system to be useful. Factors that were predictors of acceptance suggest that the ability to easily access quality information and improved the ability of dementia case managers to perform their jobs contributed their willingness to view the DCMIS as a tool that could enhance workflow.