Digital transformation is increasingly central to healthcare and social care delivery, yet its uptake remains uneven across contexts. This article compares the current state of digital transformation in private hospitals in Nigeria and care homes in the United Kingdom using a qualitative comparative case study (n = 15) and thematic analysis. Cross-case synthesis using a comparative matrix highlights both shared conditions (documentation intensity and regulatory scrutiny) and structural differences (infrastructure reliability, financing, and ecosystem integration). The findings indicate that digital maturity is shaped more by location and contextual readiness than by leaders’ tenure, and that adoption is commonly incremental and compliance-led. Key barriers include digital capability gaps and infrastructural constraints, while digitally confident younger managers often act as implementation champions. By mapping themes to transformational leadership, Kotter’s change model and diffusion stages, the article develops an inductively derived conceptual framework explaining triggers, enabling conditions and embedding dynamics in regulated care organizations.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Oladeji et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: