Healthcare professionals’ intention to adopt mobile phone-based SMS and its predictors for adherence support and care of TB patients in a resource-limited setting: a structural equation modelling analysis

Abstract

Objective To assess healthcare providers’ intentions and the associated factors to use mobile phone-based short message service (SMS) to support adherence and care of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the Oromia region of southwest Ethiopia.Study design An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2022.Study setting The study was conducted in public hospitals which include Mettu Karl referral hospital, Dembi Hospital, Bedelle Hospital, Darimu Hospital and Chora Hospital in Ilu Aba Bor and Buno Bedelle zones.Participants A total of 625 (54.9% male and 45.1% female) health professionals participated in the study. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. All health professionals permanently working in Ilu Aba Bor and Buno Bedelle zone hospitals were included in this study. However, health professionals with less than 6 months of experience and those who were not present during the data collection period were excluded from this study.Outcome measure The intention to use mobile phone-based SMS to support TB patients.Results Healthcare professionals’ intention to use mobile SMS was 54.4%. Effort expectancy had a significant direct effect on attitude (β=0.162, p<0.01) and intention towards using mobile phone SMS (β=0.329, p<0.001). The intention to use mobile phone SMS was directly influenced by facilitating conditions (β=0.104, p<0.01) and attitude (β=0.26, p<0.001). The relationship between effort expectancy and intention to use SMS was mediated by attitude (β=0.043, p<0.01).Conclusions Overall, intention to use of mobile-based SMS was high. Effort expectancy, attitude and facilitating conditions were significant factors that determined healthcare professionals’ behavioural intention to use mobile phone SMS. Effort expectancy had a more significant prediction power than others. As a result, system forms that are easily interactive and applicable should be implemented to improve capacity building and support the adherence and care of TB patients.