Utilisation of digital health technologies among frontline health professionals in five sentinel district hospitals in South Africa
1
South African Research Chairs Initiative, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2
School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A885
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) have the potential to transform the clinical practice environment of frontline health professionals (HPs) by improving efficiency, reducing paperwork and enhancing clinical decision-making. This study was informed by the knowledge gaps on the factors that influence the utilisation of DHTs by HPs in South Africa’s district hospitals.
METHODS:
During 2025, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among frontline HPs in five sentinel district hospitals across five South African provinces. Following informed consent, frontline HPs completed a self-administered questionnaire. In addition to demographic and occupational characteristics, the survey collected information on the availability of the internet and the utilisation of different types of DHTs. Overall DHT utilisation was assessed on a 1–10 scale, with high use classified as a score of ≥6/10. We used SAS for data analysis and logistic regression to examine factors associated with high DHT use.
RESULTS:
We included 810 HPs across the five hospitals. The majority were female (83.7%) with a mean age of 40.6 years (SD=11.1). Nurses made up the majority of the sample (65.4%), followed by therapeutic science practitioners (13.8%), doctors (14.3%), and pharmacists (6.5%). DHT utilisation among frontline HPs was moderate with a mean of 4.3 (SD=2.7). Internet access at work was primarily via personal devices (86.7%). Doctors mainly used DHTs for clinical decision support (36.5%), computer-aided diagnostics (42.1%), and consulting peers (55.1%). In contrast, 49.9% of nurses, 52.7% of therapeutic science practitioners, and 46.2% of pharmacists used DHTs daily to consult with peers. High DHT utilisation among frontline HCPs in district hospitals was found to be associated with health professional category, hospital-provided connectivity and geographical location (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The transformative potential of DHTs could be realised through improved digital infrastructure in hospitals and adequate support to frontline HPs.
Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) have the potential to transform the clinical practice environment of frontline health professionals (HPs) by improving efficiency, reducing paperwork and enhancing clinical decision-making. This study was informed by the knowledge gaps on the factors that influence the utilisation of DHTs by HPs in South Africa’s district hospitals.
METHODS:
During 2025, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among frontline HPs in five sentinel district hospitals across five South African provinces. Following informed consent, frontline HPs completed a self-administered questionnaire. In addition to demographic and occupational characteristics, the survey collected information on the availability of the internet and the utilisation of different types of DHTs. Overall DHT utilisation was assessed on a 1–10 scale, with high use classified as a score of ≥6/10. We used SAS for data analysis and logistic regression to examine factors associated with high DHT use.
RESULTS:
We included 810 HPs across the five hospitals. The majority were female (83.7%) with a mean age of 40.6 years (SD=11.1). Nurses made up the majority of the sample (65.4%), followed by therapeutic science practitioners (13.8%), doctors (14.3%), and pharmacists (6.5%). DHT utilisation among frontline HPs was moderate with a mean of 4.3 (SD=2.7). Internet access at work was primarily via personal devices (86.7%). Doctors mainly used DHTs for clinical decision support (36.5%), computer-aided diagnostics (42.1%), and consulting peers (55.1%). In contrast, 49.9% of nurses, 52.7% of therapeutic science practitioners, and 46.2% of pharmacists used DHTs daily to consult with peers. High DHT utilisation among frontline HCPs in district hospitals was found to be associated with health professional category, hospital-provided connectivity and geographical location (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The transformative potential of DHTs could be realised through improved digital infrastructure in hospitals and adequate support to frontline HPs.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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