A Study of Factors Influencing the Acceptance of non-Face-to-Face Treatment Based on Social Cognitive Theory

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the intention to use non-face-to-face treatment, which was temporarily allowed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Based on the social cognitive theory, individual behavioral changes occur through the dynamic interaction of individual, environmental, and behavioral factors. Thus, we investigated the impact of personal, environmental, and behavioral factors on the acceptance of non-face-to-face treatment.Methods: A Web survey was conducted using Korea Research Panel between December 26 and 29, 2022, to examine the conceptual framework. The survey targeted adults aged 19 and older, regardless of whether they had used non-face-to-face treatment. A total of 502 responses were collected. Further, a three-step hierarchical regression analysis was conducted using SPSS Windows software version 25.0.Results: The study showed that 131 out of 502 respondents had experience using non-face-to-face treatment, while 371 did not. The factors that influenced the intention to accept non-face-to-face treatment included the general characteristics of the participants (women, underlying disease), personal factors (usefulness, cost savings, knowledge), and environmental factors (social norms, trust, perceived risk). The model demonstrated an explanatory power of 65%.Conclusion: The results of this study directly show that intention is linked to behavior through the interaction between personal and environmental factors. Further research is needed to explore additional factors influencing the intention to accept non-face-to-face treatment, enabling its effective use in preventing and treating various diseases, including infectious diseases.