The Influence of Medical Values and Practices on Medical Computer Applications

Increasing concern has been expressed over the slow rate of diffusion of medical computer applications. Although the history of medical computing provides examples of applications that have been slow to develop, it also contains applications that rapidly became part of standard medical practice. These different applications’ development and adoption are partly explained by differences in goals and values between medical computer researchers and policymakers„ and intended users. The research, development, and diffusion paradigm, which has characterized medical computing research policy, has failed to recognize the importance of these differences in the adoption of innovations. Using physicians as an example and social science research in the diffusion of innovations as a theoretical foundation, the paper discusses how attention to medical culture, practices, and social institutions can improve project and implementation design and management, and facilitate the adoption of medical computer applications.

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