Comparing physician and hospital manager perceptions of medical knowledge management systems success

The study is to explore the perceptions of physicians and hospital managers on the key success factors (KSF) of a medical knowledge management system (MKMS). A survey approach was conducted in four medical centers in Taiwan. A total of 340 questionnaires, including 15 for hospital managers and 70 for physicians in each hospital, were administered. Two-hundred four questionnaires responses were received, with a 60% effective response rate. Hospital managers and physicians were testified separately as various samples. Partial least square was used to analyze the data. The results found that both groups indicated user factors and policy factors as the direct factors of MKMS performance. Knowledge quality is regarded as an antecedent to user factors, while system quality is the antecedent to both user and policy factors. However, system software and hardware was supported only by managers; and organizational factors were supported only by physicians. The results reveal the high consensus between physicians and hospital managers. Political interventions could have significant effect on adoption and implementation of MKMS. Second, the study provides hospital managers additional insights into physician requirements for organizational support. Third, more physician participation and involvement are necessary when introducing and developing a MKMS.