Influence of gender, age, and social norm on digital imaging use.

Background: The adoption of digital imaging technology is a critical investment decision, and problems related to employee acceptance of the technology often are underestimated. Literature indicates that subjective normative factors, gender differences, and age may affect employee acceptance and use of new technology. Thus, understanding these influential factors is highly important to organizations.

Objective: To explore the relationships between gender, age, subjective normative factors, and the intention to use digital imaging technology in an environment where its use is mandatory.

Methods: A survey was used to investigate the applicability of a modified, theoretical technology acceptance model as a proposed model of radiographers' intention to use digital imaging technology. Structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model, and path analysis was used to examine dependence between variables.

Results: Although the data supports the modified versions of the theoretical technology acceptance model, the relationship between age and gender was very weak. When age and gender were removed from the model, voluntariness had a weak effect, suggesting other environmental factors play a larger role in explaining subjective normative factors within a radiologic environment.

Conclusion: In contrast to other technology adoption studies, age and gender were not significantly associated with radiographers' acceptance and use of technology. Age and gender patterns do not apply to the adoption of digital imaging for this population. Therefore, one can conclude that in an environment in which digital imaging equipment use is mandated, additional sociocontextual variables play a role in the radiographers' intention to use the technology.