Factors influencing the use of mobile systems to access healthcare big data in a Namibian public hospital

Abstract

The use of mobile systems to access healthcare big data is generally a challenge, but worse in Namibia because the influencing factors are not empirically known in the country. The objective of this study is to examine the factors that can determine and influence the use of mobile systems to access big data within the public healthcare in Namibia. Thus, a Namibian public hospital was used as a case in the study. Qualitative data was collected by using the semi-structured technique. Structuration theory was employed as a lens to guide the analysis of the data. The following factors—mobile systems ease of use, system user training, online consultation, medical history traceability, access to external facilities, practitioner’s collaboration, systems decentralisation, and technology infrastructure flexibility—were found to influence the use of mobile systems in accessing healthcare big data for service delivery. Based on the findings, a model was developed. The model is intended to guide hospital managers in the use of mobile systems to access patient big data for service delivery.