Investigating the resistance to telemedicine in Ethiopia

• We examine why Ethiopian healthcare providers resist using telemedicine.
• Resistance is affected by perceived threat positively and controllability negatively.
• Concerns of reduced autonomy, anxiety, and costs indirectly increase resistance.
• Government support alleviates providers’ concerns related to telemedicine.
• Government support moderates the effects of perceived threat and controllability.

BackgroundTelemedicine has great potential to improve health care in Africa as well as other developing areas, especially when medical expertise is urgently needed in emergency situations. Yet resistance from healthcare professionals could prevent telemedicine's social value from being materialized.ObjectiveThis article intends to understand why healthcare providers resist using telemedicine from a threat-control perspective.MethodA survey on 107 healthcare professionals in Ethiopia was conducted.ConclusionsThe resistance to telemedicine is determined by perceived threat and perceived controllability, which in turn are influenced by reduced autonomy, anxiety, and costs. Government support weakens the effect of perceived threat but strengthens the effect of perceived controllability on telemedicine resistance.