Healthcare professional's demand for knowledge in informatics

OBJECTIVE To develop an economic model of health care professional demand for knowledge capital in health informatics. DESIGN Case study with application of the contingent valuation method to develop a small-scale model. SETTING Specialized clinic at a university Hospital in Sweden. RESULTS The model displays the economic rationale behind an individual choice to spend leisure time for obtaining knowledge in health informatics. This decision reduces the total leisure time, but does not increase salary. Instead, it may increase the personal well-being by higher satisfaction gained from using information systems and by being recognized as a computer expert. CONCLUSIONS Individuals have preferences over all uses of time and for activities they can choose to engage in. Support of health care staff's investment in health informatics knowledge capital may benefit both the individuals and indirectly the health care organization.

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