Antecedents of physicians' intentions to engage in digital volunteering work: an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) approach

What is it about?

Purpose – The digitalization has changed the volunteer paradigm, making young volunteers that use technology in their volunteering activities. The current study sets out to identify and model the antecedents that determine intention to engage in digital health volunteering among Algerian physicians to give insights promoting the development of digital volunteering in different countries of the world. Design/methodology/approach – To this end, we used a survey design to extended the technology acceptance model (TAM) with two construct (self-efficacy and perceived risk of COVID-19 infection). A convenience sample of 163 physicians was selected; working in the private and public sectors in six provinces of Algeria. The data were analyzed through a multiple linear regression. Findings – The findings show that the perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitudes toward digital volunteering, level of self-efficacy, and perceived risk of COVID-19 infection have a significant positive effect on physicians' intentions to engage in digital volunteering work in the context of health crises. Practical implications – Our study reveals that engaging in digital volunteering can be promoted during health crises as an effective strategy to provide support and assist public health institutions and emergency management.

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Why is it important?

Originality/value –To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from Africa that explores digital volunteer work, and the first study that extends the TAM to investigate digital volunteer intention among physicians.