A confirmatory factor analysis of the behavioral intention to use smart wellness wearables in Malaysia

Abstract

Wearable technology refers to the next generation of the digital revolution that connects items with embedded sensors to the Internet so as to enhance the quality of human life. Wearables have shifted the focus of the healthcare sector toward prevention programs that empower individuals to be active and liable for their own health. Although the number of smart wearable users has grown significantly, there is still a lack of academic researches on what motivates and prevents the continued usage of these devices. Hence, the main objectives of this study are, namely: to explain the impediments and affecting factors in deciding to use smart wellness wearables from a user’s perspective; and to propose a unified model to explore the impact of these factors on an individual’s behavioral intentions. Accordingly, the “Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2” and the “Value-based Adoption Model” were integrated with two additional factors, namely perceived trust and perceived health increase. Following this, a survey was conducted among students and 100 reliable responses were received. As a result of this study, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis from the developed instrument is presented. The findings have confirmed the validity and reliability of the developed instrument. This paper also presents the theoretical understanding of the involved factors in the proposed model.