The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

This paper illustrates the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) in the healthcare sector, using a case study focusing on a medical information system, namely, Ajisai Net, based in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Regional differences in diffusion patterns and their factors are indi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tsutomu Nakamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Netcom Association 2020-02-01
Series:Netcom
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/netcom/4577
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832580367502016512
author Tsutomu Nakamura
author_facet Tsutomu Nakamura
author_sort Tsutomu Nakamura
collection DOAJ
description This paper illustrates the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) in the healthcare sector, using a case study focusing on a medical information system, namely, Ajisai Net, based in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Regional differences in diffusion patterns and their factors are indicated through a focus on the decision-making of related actors, including system-promoting agencies. This study also clarifies the status of system utilization and the effects of and issues with the system. System utilization spreads through system-promoting agencies in the form of increases in information-disclosure facilities. The diffusion process of this case differed from the hierarchical effect. The city of Omura was the first place where participating facilities could access the system in the infrastructure-building phase, followed by Nagasaki and Kamigoto in the spatial-expansion phase, followed by Sasebo, Isahaya, and Shimabara when widespread dissemination was achieved to the entire prefecture. Based on the ICT’s utilization, the results demonstrate that the diffusion of medical information system was determined by existing social relations ; however, the degree of social relations was not always proportional to the size of the urban area. System-diffusion patterns were found to be a different form than those in previous studies. Nagasaki Prefecture contains many isolated islands and has large internal regional differences in medical resources. In response to these geographical conditions, cooperative relationships among healthcare providers had already been developed before the introduction of ICT. This study suggests that effective use of existing social relationships can establish governance that moves a pattern from competition to coexistence.
format Article
id doaj-art-54433ef2c1c94cfdad5ca93d917038a5
institution Kabale University
issn 0987-6014
2431-210X
language English
publishDate 2020-02-01
publisher Netcom Association
record_format Article
series Netcom
spelling doaj-art-54433ef2c1c94cfdad5ca93d917038a52025-01-30T11:00:56ZengNetcom AssociationNetcom0987-60142431-210X2020-02-013310.4000/netcom.4577The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, JapanTsutomu NakamuraThis paper illustrates the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) in the healthcare sector, using a case study focusing on a medical information system, namely, Ajisai Net, based in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Regional differences in diffusion patterns and their factors are indicated through a focus on the decision-making of related actors, including system-promoting agencies. This study also clarifies the status of system utilization and the effects of and issues with the system. System utilization spreads through system-promoting agencies in the form of increases in information-disclosure facilities. The diffusion process of this case differed from the hierarchical effect. The city of Omura was the first place where participating facilities could access the system in the infrastructure-building phase, followed by Nagasaki and Kamigoto in the spatial-expansion phase, followed by Sasebo, Isahaya, and Shimabara when widespread dissemination was achieved to the entire prefecture. Based on the ICT’s utilization, the results demonstrate that the diffusion of medical information system was determined by existing social relations ; however, the degree of social relations was not always proportional to the size of the urban area. System-diffusion patterns were found to be a different form than those in previous studies. Nagasaki Prefecture contains many isolated islands and has large internal regional differences in medical resources. In response to these geographical conditions, cooperative relationships among healthcare providers had already been developed before the introduction of ICT. This study suggests that effective use of existing social relationships can establish governance that moves a pattern from competition to coexistence.https://journals.openedition.org/netcom/4577ICTJapandiffusioninformation and communication technologyhealthcare
spellingShingle Tsutomu Nakamura
The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Netcom
ICT
Japan
diffusion
information and communication technology
healthcare
title The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_full The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_fullStr The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_full_unstemmed The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_short The geographical factors affecting ICT diffusion process in the healthcare sector. A case study in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_sort geographical factors affecting ict diffusion process in the healthcare sector a case study in nagasaki prefecture japan
topic ICT
Japan
diffusion
information and communication technology
healthcare
url https://journals.openedition.org/netcom/4577
work_keys_str_mv AT tsutomunakamura thegeographicalfactorsaffectingictdiffusionprocessinthehealthcaresectoracasestudyinnagasakiprefecturejapan
AT tsutomunakamura geographicalfactorsaffectingictdiffusionprocessinthehealthcaresectoracasestudyinnagasakiprefecturejapan