Policies and Practices Related to Information System Adoption in Hospitals Owned by Ministries of Health in the Arab Gulf

Abstract

This is a discussion paper based on the findings from a study of the factors affecting the adoption of computer-based hospital information systems (CBHIS) in the Arabian Gulf. The study involved on-site visits to hospitals in Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as visits to ministries of health in these countries. The focus of this paper is on the adoption of CBHIS by ministry of health (MOH) hospitals, in specific, because of the main role that ministries of health play as providers of health care in the Region.

Prior to describing CBHIS adoption practices, an overview of the Region in terms of its economic development and its health care delivery systems is presented. Next, the research setting along with the major findings are briefly described followed by a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of centralized CBHIS adoptions. Finally, management guidelines related to the adoption of CBHIS by multi-hospital institutions are proposed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baronas

A. K.

Louis

M. R.

(1988). ‘Restoring a sense of control during implementation: How user involvement leads to user acceptance’. MIS Quarterly, 12, 1.

Chandler

J. S.

Holzer

H. P.

(1985). ‘Pre-conditions for the introduction of computer-based accounting systems in less developed countries’. Management International Review, 25, 2, 53–66.

Dowling

A. F.

(1980). ‘Do hospital staff interfere with computer system implementation’. Health Care Management Review, 5, Fall, 23–32.

Emery

J. J.

Graham

N. A.

Oppenheimer

M. F.

(1986). Technological Trade with the Middle East. London: Westview Press.

Geisler

Rubenstein

A. H.

(1987). ‘The successful implementation of application software in new production systems’. Interfaces, 17 March, 18–24.

Ginzberg

M. J.

(1981). ‘Early diagnosis of MIS implementation failure: Promising results and unanswered questions’. Management Science, 27 April, 459–78.

Infosystems (1985). ‘Adventures of an MIS consultant in Saudi Arabia’, March, 68–70.

Kim

Lee

(1986). ‘An exploratory contingency model of user participation and MIS use’. Information and Management, November, 87–97.

Lucas

H. C.

(1973). ‘Users reaction and the management of information systems’. Management Informatics, 2, 4.

10.

Maish

A. M.

(1979). ‘A user's behavior toward his MIS’. MIS Quarterly, 3 March, 39–51.

11.

Nabali

H. M.

(1988). Factors Affecting the Adoption of Computer-based Hospital Information Systems in the Arabian Gulf. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International.

12.

Perez

V. L.

(1980). ‘Factors challenging information technology application in developing countries’. Information and Management, March, 141–7.

13.

Reichertz

P. L.

(1982). ‘The challenge of medical informatics: Delusions or new perspectives?’ Medical Informatics, 7, 1, 57–66.

14.

Robey

(1979). ‘User attitudes and MIS use’. Academy of Management Journal, 22 September, 527–38.