Original Research - Special Collection: Managerial Practices

Managerial practices for app-based primary care telemedicine service acceptance in South Africa

Grethe van Tonder, Ronel du Preez, Christian D. Pentz
South African Journal of Business Management | Vol 55, No 1 | a4667 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v55i1.4667 | © 2024 Grethe van Tonder, Ronel du Preez, Christian D. Pentz | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 25 April 2024 | Published: 30 September 2024

About the author(s)

Grethe van Tonder, Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Ronel du Preez, Department of Industrial Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Christian D. Pentz, Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abstract

Purpose: This study addresses the qualitative research phase of a mixed methods study conducted to investigate patient acceptance of an app-based telemedicine service for primary care aimed at South African public health care sector patients.

Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data were collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews with patients who had exposure to an existing app-based primary care telemedicine service in South Africa named Kena Health. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data using ATLAS.ti software was conducted to identify the relevant antecedents of telemedicine service acceptance in the study’s context.

Findings/results: Eight antecedents of app-based primary care telemedicine service acceptance among South African patients (who are predominantly reliant on public health care sector services to receive medical care) were identified, namely, perceived compatibility, perceived ease of use, relative advantage, price value, trust, innovativeness, privacy perception and care perception.

Practical implications: To date, prior literature has not yet identified the specific antecedents that would apply to the acceptance of an app-based telemedicine service for primary care among South African individuals who are predominantly reliant on the country’s public health care system to receive medical care.

Originality/value: Our study contributes to the literature by identifying which existing factors of technology acceptance apply to primary care telemedicine service acceptance, predominantly in the South African public health care sector context. Furthermore, additional antecedents of telemedicine service acceptance that have not been included in technology acceptance theory until present, that is, (positive) privacy perception and care perception are identified.


Keywords

telemedicine; health care; app-based primary care; South African public health care sector; privacy perception; care perception

JEL Codes

I11: Analysis of Health Care Markets; N37: Africa • Oceania

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Metrics

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