A Patient's Perspective on Decision-making for the Adoption of Digital Care Pathways

Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) are implemented to provide high-quality, patient-centred care. Yet, there is little evidence about the decision-making role patients play for the adoption of HIS nor what factors patients deem essential in the adoption of HIS. To guide healthcare practitioners in decision-making for the adoption of HIS, this study reports on the key factors which influence patients' perception and use of HIS. Specifically, a qualitative study was conducted with 15 patients to understand the phenomenon of patient decision-making for the adoption of HIS. Our findings identify the concept of 'Digital Care Pathways' and indicate that there are four primary decision factors which influence the adoption of HIS: (i) trust; (ii) fear; (iii) ease of use; and (iv) accessibility. To synthesise the findings, we present the patients decision-making framework for digital care pathways as a first step to encapsulate the patients' perspective of decision-making factors associated with adopting innovations for digital care pathways.