• Lieve Vonken, Hani Hussein, Rik Crutzen, and Stan Vluggen.
• Maastricht University, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Promotion, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
• Fam Pract. 2023 Feb 9; 40 (1): 919791-97.

BackgroundeHealth provides a viable option to facilitate type-2 diabetes mellitus self-management and adherence. To this end, a web-based computer-tailored eHealth programme, My Diabetes Profile (MDP), was developed and implemented in Dutch diabetes care. To fully utilize the potential of eHealth, the reach of effective programmes like MDP should be maximized. Therefore, it is vital to explore perceptions of general practitioners (GPs) regarding eHealth and factors that influence GPs' decision to adopt eHealth programmes.ObjectiveTo shed light on Dutch GPs' perceptions towards eHealth in general and specifically, the adoption of MDP.MethodsInterviews were conducted among a heterogeneous sample of 16 Dutch GPs. The interview guide, based on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, addressed perceptions about eHealth in general, characteristics of MDP, organizational characteristics, and external influences on adoption. Audio-recordings were transcribed and analysed using deductive coding in NVivo.ResultsNearly all GPs used some form of eHealth and listed many benefits and few drawbacks about eHealth. Sometimes, GPs were unaware of what eHealth encompassed; programmes resembling MDP were not mentioned. COVID-19 immensely increased eHealth uptake, especially for remote communication. Regarding MDP, the organizational and external influences on adoption were limited, while characteristics of the innovation were deemed more important. GPs expressed benefits of MDP (e.g. uncomplex, user-friendly, tailored) other than attributed to eHealth in general and fewer drawbacks.ConclusionWhile GPs' opinions about eHealth and MDP were positive, the concept of MDP was relatively unfamiliar. Future research should focus on targeting GPs' awareness of eHealth possibilities.© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.

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