Perceptions and Intentions to Use E-Health Services in Mental Health Care Settings: A Case Study Among Resident Physicians

Background: Despite growing interest in e-health acceptance, few studies have focused on the acceptance of e-health services, particularly among residents' physicians in mental healthcare settings. This study aims to explore perceptions and behavioral intentions toward the online medical appointment booking system (OMABS) among psychiatry residents in a Moroccan university hospital, focusing on how contextual factors influence their use intention. Methods: Based on factors related to residency training, the characteristics of psychiatric practice, and classic factors of technological acceptance models, a survey was conducted among all 46 psychiatry resident physicians. The small sample size is a result of the naturally limited population rather than a sampling decision. Differences in perceptions across residency years were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, while Spearman correlation assessed the relationship between independent variables and use intention. Additionally, residency year was tested as a moderating variable through the inclusion of interaction terms in the analysis. Results: Findings reported favorable perceptions of OMABS' usefulness, relative ease of use, data security, and reliability. However, these perceptions varied over the later residency year, becoming more influenced by curriculum exposure, peer support, and direct experience than by usability testing or security analysis. Contextual factors, such as a heavy workload and time constraints, low autonomy in managing consultations, the inherent complexity of psychiatric care, and insufficient integration of technology into the medical curriculum, were perceived as barriers. Correlation analysis indicated that perceived usefulness, security, and even perceived workload and time constraints were positively associated with use intention, whereas the other contextual factors were not significant. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study exploring resident physicians’ acceptance of e-appointment services in psychiatric care within a developing country. The Findings reveal that residents' physicians' intention to use e-health services is more associated with perceived operational benefits than with contextual barriers. These insights may guide policy development and implementation of e-health among medical trainees.