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In this paper, we reflect on the potential contributions of ANT and its practical applicability to evaluations of IT in the healthcare setting. Īctor-Network Theory (ANT) draws on the STS perspective. The extent to which these shape, fit and complement each other is believed to be important in determining how the system functions. attitudes and relationships of stakeholders) are interrelated. a specific IT system) and social dimensions (e.g. an organisation such as the National Health Service (NHS)) where technical dimensions (e.g. A socio-technical system can be described as a system (e.g. One of the most commonly cited theories - because it pays close attention to this complexity - is the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) perspective. Several specific approaches have been developed to study humans and their interaction with technology in organisations. The aim is to try to find out how these different stories/worlds are related, which is in turn assumed to lead to insights into aspects of the complex picture one is studying. Law and Mol argue that researchers need to acknowledge this challenge, whilst paying attention to multiple scenarios that reveal different stories, which may relate to each other. On the one hand, there is the need to simplify reality, but the flip side of this is that this simplification should not be to the extent that this masks the fine nuances that characterise this complexity. Studying IT in healthcare is therefore in many ways like trying to "hit a moving target" it requires different social theories than were present before its rise. This is especially true for the multifaceted healthcare environment where many different groups use various technologies in complex ways. However, transmission of information through IT is not straightforward as inputs are often transformed into unpredictable outputs. The underlying assumption underpinning the introduction of IT in healthcare is that improvements of information flow will translate into improved quality of care. These interventions need to be evaluated and in this respect the importance of theoretically informed investigations of these new technologies, in order to maximise the effectiveness of implementation, has repeatedly been highlighted. Several countries worldwide are therefore now committed to the increasing use of IT in healthcare settings. Information technology (IT) is increasingly being used to facilitate the communication of information across healthcare teams and groups with the aim to make the delivery of care safer and more efficient. Studying IT implementations in healthcare settings Our experiences suggest it can be helpful in investigating technology implementations in healthcare settings. SummaryĪctor-Network Theory needs to be used pragmatically with an appreciation of its shortcomings. We draw on existing empirical work in this area and our ongoing work investigating the integration of electronic health record systems introduced as part of England's National Programme for Information Technology to illustrate salient points. It can also prove practically useful in providing a theoretically informed approach to sampling (by drawing on informants that are related to the technology in question) and analysis (by providing a conceptual tool and vocabulary that can form the basis for interpretations). Attention to this shaping role can contribute to a more holistic appreciation of the complexity of technology introduction in healthcare settings. Of central importance in this respect is that Actor-Network Theory provides a lens through which to view the role of technology in shaping social processes. This can prove helpful in understanding how social effects are generated as a result of associations between different actors in a network. Discussionĭespite some limitations, an Actor-Network Theory-based approach is conceptually useful in helping to appreciate the complexity of reality (including the complexity of organisations) and the active role of technology in this context. We argue that health services research, and in particular evaluations of complex IT systems in health service organisations, may benefit from being informed by Actor-Network Theory perspectives. Actor-Network Theory (ANT) is an increasingly influential, but still deeply contested, approach to understand humans and their interactions with inanimate objects.
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