Healthcare Functionaries’ Perceptions of Integration of Digital Health Technologies in Indian Public Health System: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Despite their critical role in the design and implementation of new care practices, healthcare professionals' perspectives on the integration of digital technology in healthcare have rarely been taken into account in previous studies.This qualitative descriptive study aims to expand our understanding of healthcare professionals' views on digital health technologies by shedding light on their actual experiences using qualitative methods.Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals from three levels of healthcare settings: the policy/programme level, the district level, and the peripheral level.Participants were selected using both convenient and purposeful sampling to ensure a comprehensive representation of perspectives.Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive content analysis facilitated by the qualitative analysis software ATLAS.ti.Themes and sub-themes were identified to capture the nuanced experiences and opinions of the participants.Key findings indicate that healthcare professionals appreciate the enhanced connectivity and support provided by digital tools but also stress the need for improved technology infrastructure, user-friendly interfaces, and continuous training.Furthermore, participants highlighted the necessity of locally relevant information and a hybrid strategy that integrates digital and traditional training approaches to ensure effective implementation and utilization of digital health technologies.This study underscores the critical need for robust technology infrastructure, context-specific digital health solutions, and comprehensive training programs to support healthcare professionals in the digital age.Policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize these aspects to fully realize the potential of digital health technologies in improving healthcare outcomes.