Digital health interventions in the clinical care and treatment of tuberculosis and hiv in central Ethiopia: An initial provider perceptions and acceptability study using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model.

BACKGROUND

Digital health technologies are emerging as promising technologies to advance clinical care. This study aimed to assess providers' perceptions and acceptability of digital health interventions (DHIs) in the clinical care and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

METHODS

This was a multi-center, facility-based, mixed-method, cross-sectional study that included 14 government health-care facilities. The participants were health-care providers (HCPs) who provide TB and HIV clinical care. Using a tool framed by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model, data were collected. A linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

There were 76 HCPs actively engaged in HIV/TB clinical care services in the selected 14 study sites, of whom 60 met the inclusion criteria and participated in this study. The major factors that influence HCPs' willingness to use different technologies were educational level (β = 0.097, t = 3.784, P = 0.006), age (β = -0.227, t = -1.757, P = 0.027), work experience (β = -0.366, t = -2.855, P = 0.016). The strongest facilitator of their acceptance and the use of the digital adherence technology were perceptions of positive performance expectancy.

CONCLUSION

Many public healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa have already begun the process of implementing various DHIs and the level of acceptability of these technologies by HCPs was found to be high.