Examining consumer use of mobile health applications by the extended UTAUT model

Abstract

Today, rapid changes and innovations in technology cause changes in the health sector as in many areas. Especially mobile technologies and applications are increasing their usage areas in the health sector day by day. Thanks to these mobile health applications, consumers provide a lot of convenience and advantages in healthy eating, reproductive health, disease monitoring, access to health records, etc.The study aims to investigate consumers’ usage of mobile health (mHealth) applications with the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. It is possible to say that it is an empirical study since the data were collected with the questionnaire method. Because this is research based on a cause-and-result relationship, the relationships were revealed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The data were collected between November 2020 and January 2021 via the Google Forms platform from 354 individuals using convenience sampling through social media channels. The SPSS and SmartPLS programs were used for the analyses. First of all, it was determined that the scales' validity and reliability were ensured by performing validity and reliability analysis of the research model. According to the findings, it was revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, habit, hedonic motivation, and perceived trust have a significant effect on the intention to use mHealth applications and, the intention to use mHealth applications has a significant effect on the behaviour of use mHealth applications.