JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

e-Health readiness has been defined as the preparedness of healthcare institutions or communities for the anticipated change brought by programmes related to ICT use. In order to ascertain the degree of such preparedness, an e-health readiness assessment (eHRA) is needed. Literature on existing eHRA tools shows great inconsistency in content, definitions, as well as recommendations, and none have been found entirely suitable for assessing e-health readiness in the context of developing countries. In a quest to develop an informed eHRA framework and tools with applicability to Botswana and similar developing countries, insight was sought from a broad spectrum of e-health stakeholders in Botswana to identify and inform relevant issues, including those not specifically addressed in available eHRA tools.

Objective:

This study evaluates expert opinions on aspects that need to be considered when developing an eInterviews were conducted with purposively selected individuals and organisations perceived as having a role in the implementation of e-health in Botswana. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis of transcripts involved the use of an iterative approach and NVivo 11 software. The major themes, as well as the subthemes, emerging from the thematic analysis were then discussed and agreed upon by the authors through consensus.HRA framework suitable for use in developing countries.

Methods:

Interviews were conducted with purposively selected individuals and organisations perceived as having a role in the implementation of e-health in Botswana. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis of transcripts involved the use of an iterative approach and NVivo 11 software. The major themes, as well as the subthemes, emerging from the tAnalysis of interviews identified four e-health readiness themes (governance, stakeholder issues, resources, and access), with 33 subthemes and 9 sub-sub-themes. A major finding was that these results did not directly correspond in content or in order to those previously identified in literature reviews. Results highlighted the need to perform exploratory research prior to developing an eHRA to ensure that those topics of relevance and importance to the local setting are identified first, and then explored in any subsequent eHRA using stakeholder specific tools. In addition, seven sectors in Botswana were identified as having a role to play in order to ensure successful implementation of e-health projects, and might be targets for assessment. hematic analysis were then discussed and agreed upon by the authors through consensus.

Results:

Analysis of interviews identified four e-health readiness themes (governance, stakeholder issues, resources, and access), with 33 subthemes and 9 sub-sub-themes. A major finding was that these results did not directly correspond in content or in order to those previously identified in literature reviews. Results highlighted the need to perform exploratory research prior to developing an eHRA to ensure that those topics of relevance and impoInsight obtained from this study will be used to inform development of an evidence based e-health readiness assessment framework suitable for use in developing countries such as Botswana.rtance to the local setting are identified first, and then explored in any subsequent eHRA using stakeholder specific tools. In addition, seven sectors in Botswana were identified as having a role to play in order to ensure successful implementation of e-health projects, and might be targets for assessment.

Conclusions:

Insight obtained from this study will be used to inform development of an evidence based e-health readiness assessment framework suitable for use in developing countries such as Botswana.