A reliable tool for assessment of acceptance of e-consultation service in hospitals: the modified e-consultation Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire

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INTRODUCTION: Innovative approaches like e-consultation services are critical for improving access to healthcare and promoting equity, particularly in under-resourced settings. Despite their growing prominence, limited tools are available to assess healthcare professionals' acceptance and satisfaction with these services. This study aimed to validate the modified e-consultation TAM questionnaire as a reliable instrument for assessing physicians' perspectives on e-consultation service. METHODS: This study focuses exclusively on physicians receiving (not providing) e-consultation service within the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population. The tool used for assessing their acceptance of the service consists of three sections: demographic data, items assessing perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) of e-consultation, and questions addressing physicians' satisfaction, challenges, and suggestions to improve e-consultation services. The questionnaire was subjected to thorough validation, including face validity evaluated by an expert panel and construct validity which was assessed through factor analysis. RESULTS: The modified e-consultation TAM questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeding 0.92 for both PU and PEU. Exploratory factor analysis identified two domains, PU and PEU, explaining 81.17% of the variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.661 to 0.912. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the two-factor model, with standardized factor loadings between 0.80 and 0.95, a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.95, and a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.084. CONCLUSION: The modified e-consultation TAM questionnaire proves to be a reliable and valid tool for evaluating physicians' acceptance of and satisfaction with e-consultation service. This tool offers potential for future research and practical applications, providing valuable insights to improve the implementation of e-consultation services and inform strategies for advancing healthcare access and equity globally.

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