Title
Barriers to the widespread adoption of health data standards: an exploratory qualitative study in tertiary healthcare organizations in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Although health data standards are perceived to be the essential solution for interoperability barriers within medical IT systems, the level of adoption of those standards still remains frustratingly low. Little is known about the barriers facing their adoption within the healthcare organizations context. In addressing this gap in the literature, based on IT related standards adoption theories such as Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the theories surrounding the Economics of Standards, a qualitative multiple-case study was undertaken in Saudi Arabia to investigate those barriers. The results exposed that few standards were adopted because of four broad reasons, managerial, technical, educational and governmental. While some of the findings can be rooted to those related standards theories, others can be underpinned through the normative literature. Core barriers are the lack of a national regulator and a data exchange plan, and the lack of an adequate policy regarding medical IT systems and information management and national healthcare system; also important are technical barriers and the switching costs to the standards. The outcome of this study can be used in forming effective interventions when planning to use health data standards and, in particular those in developing countries.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1007/s10916-012-9895-2
J. Medical Systems
Keywords
Field
DocType
Health data standards, Healthcare system, Developing countries, Standards adoption, Medical IT systems, Saudi Arabia
Health care,Information management,Psychological intervention,Public relations,Normative,Computer security,Information technology,Interoperability,Knowledge management,Developing country,Qualitative research,Medicine
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
37
2
1573-689X
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
89
0.75
16
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Abdullah Alkraiji1901.43
Thomas W. Jackson221717.90
Ian Murray3891.09