Pushing the contextual envelope: developing and diffusing IS theory for health information systems research

• Published in: Information and organization Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 155 - 188
• Main Authors: Chiasson, Mike W., Davidson, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2004
• Subjects: Health information systems research; Information technology; Institutional setting; Multidisciplinary research; Sociology of knowledge; Theory development; Theory development; Sociology of knowledge; Health information systems research; Publication; Multidisciplinary research; Institutional setting; Information technology
• ISSN: 1471-7727; 1873-7919
• DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2004.02.001

The healthcare sector is a crucial and socially challenging component of modern economies. Information systems (IS) research could contribute to the effective development, application and use of information technologies to manage and coordinate health services. Healthcare also provides opportunities to develop or refine IS theory because of its unique institutional context. To profile IS research in health-related settings, we examine the publication of health information systems research (HISR) in 17 IS journals since 1985. Our analysis revealed a small but growing body of HISR literature. These publications are concentrated in “HISR-friendly journals” and employ a variety of strategies for balancing general IS theories and knowledge with attention to the institutional characteristics of healthcare. We consider the strengths and limitations of these strategies in advancing HISR within the IS field and for contributing to multidisciplinary HISR knowledge.