Determinants of Continuance Intention to Use Health Apps among Users over 60: A Test of Social Cognitive Model.

Eunhye Kim,Semi Han

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910367

Abstract

Promoting healthy behavior among seniors is important in reducing the burden of care and healthcare expenses in a rapidly aging society. Health apps can play an important role in health promotion for older adults, but the level of user retention in health apps is low. To increase continued health app use among older adults, this study examined the factors influencing older users’ continuance intentions to use health apps. The research model was developed based on the social cognitive theory of health behavior, which integrates cognitive, environmental, and behavioral perspectives. To test the research model, an anonymous online survey was conducted among respondents aged 60 to 79 years who were using health apps. The measurement items in the questionnaire were developed based on validated scales from the literature. A total of 250 samples were analyzed. The assessment of the measurement model indicates that the reliability and validity of the items are satisfactory. The results of testing the structural model illustrate the determinants of health app continuance intention: health technology self-efficacy, self-evaluative outcome expectations, self-regulation, and privacy risk. The interrelationships among determinants are also investigated. Theoretical and practical implications are suggested to encourage older adults’ continued health app use and promote their health behavior over the long term.

Highlights

While the aging population is rapidly growing, the number of people who can take care of older adults and the budget to care for them is limited
The results demonstrate that self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulatory behavior had positive effects on physical activity, while perceived barriers had a negative effect
In regard to the highest level of education, the highest level of education for 42.4% of respondents was a university degree, while for 38.8% the highest level was a high school diploma. These income and education levels are slightly higher than the average for Koreans in their 60s and 70s [55], but considering the results of previous studies finding that income and educational background influence acceptance intentions of health technologies such as health apps (e.g., [46,56]), our sample can be regarded as adequately representative

Summary

Introduction

While the aging population is rapidly growing, the number of people who can take care of older adults and the budget to care for them is limited. To reduce the burden of caring for older adults, it is necessary to manage their health in their daily lives and prevent chronic disease. Effective health management for older adults can reduce the burden of care for the dependent generation and improve older adults’. Healthy habits and behaviors such as regular exercise, good sleep patterns, and healthy eating are important in the successful management and maintenance of older adults’ health. It is well known that regular exercise can reduce the risk of death and chronic disease and enhance quality of life [1]. To encourage healthy behavior, such as regular exercise, among older people, self-management of healthcare is important [3]. The importance of self-management of healthy habits is increasing, it is difficult to persuade people to engage in such self-management. Self-management of health cannot be achieved solely by deciding to engage in such behavior, and several psychological subfunctions—including motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation—are necessary drivers of self-management behavior [3]

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Conclusion