Acceptance of a Connected Blood Pressure Monitor in the Diagnosis of Hypertension in Rural Areas: An Exploratory Study in France

Abstract

Home medical devices are increasingly proving their usefulness to the general public, particularly in medical deserts such as rural areas and also in the diagnosis of hypertension (e.g., telemedicine practice requesting self-measurement of blood pressure), nevertheless, this product is not always well received by the population. The objective of this study is to analyze the acceptance of a connected blood pressure monitor in order to understand the factors that will impact its integration in the activity of its appropriation. Twenty patients living in rural areas awaiting diagnosis of hypertension responded to the UTAUT questionnaire after performing self-monitoring of blood pressure for 3 consecutive days. Our results suggest that the intentions of use are related to the 3 main dimensions of the UTAUT, i.e. expected performance (or perceived usefulness), effort expectancy (or perceived ease-of-use), social influence. Effort Expectancy is also strongly correlated to the attitude toward the device. Nevertheless, age, gender, technophilia, self-efficacy and anxiety are not correlated with usage intentions. These results suggest that the intention to use the blood pressure monitor that may impact actual use is determined more by its usefulness (functions, etc.) and ease of use than by socio-demographic characteristics. This is particularly encouraging insofar as these medical devices are a priori accepted by a population with variable characteristics (age, etc.) providing that they are properly designed to be perceived as useful and usable.