Application of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model in predicting pharmacists' intention to use personal digital assistants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate pharmacists' behavioral intention to use personal digital assistants (PDAs) in their profession, by means of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM).


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Hospital and community pharmacies in Houston, TX, in 2004.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 295 practicing pharmacists.


METHODS
A prevalidated survey containing 30 items, evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale (1, strongly disagree, to 5, strongly agree), which measured the ETAM variables.


METHODS
Predictors of intention to use PDA for pharmacists owning the device.


RESULTS
Among the surveyed population, 49% of pharmacists owned PDAs. Overall, the ETAM constructs showed fairly good reliability. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the ETAM explained 69% of the variance in intention to use PDAs for pharmacists owning the device. Result demonstrability (beta = 0.53), subjective norm (beta = 0.25), and voluntariness (beta = -0.10) were significant (P < 0.05) predictors of pharmacists' intention to use PDAs.


CONCLUSIONS
ETAM proved useful in predicting pharmacists' behavior in using PDAs. With improvements in technology, PDAs be an effective tool for pharmacists in providing better patient care.
Dasgupta
Anandaroop
A
Department of Clinical Sciences and Administration, Division of Pharmacy Administration and Public Health, University of Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Sansgiry
Sujit S
SS
Sherer
Jeff T
JT
Wallace
David
D
Sikri
Samir
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis