Factors Influencing Continued Usage Behavior on Mobile Health Applications.

Pei Wu,Xiaomin Zhu,Manlu Liu,Runtong Zhang

doi:10.3390/healthcare10020208

Pei Wu, Xiaomin Zhu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10020208

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Abstract

(1) Background: As people pay more attention to health, mobile health applications (mHealth apps) are becoming popular. These apps offer health services that run on mobile devices to help improve users’ health behaviors. However, few studies explore what motivates users to continue to use these apps. This study proposes antecedents influencing users’ electronic satisfaction (e-satisfaction) and their continued behaviors of using mHealth apps. Based on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), this study constructs a research model including perceived reliability and online review to predict the continued usage behavior on mHealth apps in China; (2) Methods: We conduct an online survey to collect data from participants who have used mHealth apps. This study receives 327 valid responses and tests the research model using the partial least squares structural equation model approach; (3) Results: Our results find that antecedents positively affect continued usage intention through the mediation role of e-satisfaction with mHealth apps. Interestingly, this study reveals that habit positively affects the continued usage behavior and moderates the effect of e-satisfaction and continued intention of using mHealth apps; (4) Conclusions: This study presents theoretical implications on the extended UTAUT2 and provides practical implications understanding of managing mHealth apps in China.

Highlights

The speedy evolutions of information technology (IT) have encouraged mobile devices to become a broad part of daily life
Content validity, and structural validity of each construct based on the sample examination
The results reveal the significant impact of effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived reliability, price value, online review on users’ continued intention of using mHealth apps

Summary

Introduction

The speedy evolutions of information technology (IT) have encouraged mobile devices to become a broad part of daily life. The widespread mobile device usage contributes to the integration of health and mobile services [1]. MHealth apps have changed the way health information acquiring and improved the efficacy of services in the healthcare field [2,3]. Zion Market Research [4] proposes that the mHealth apps market will be more than USD 111 billion by 2025. The development of mHealth apps depends on their attracting and retaining users. Understanding users’ continued usage behavior is essential for the success of mHealth apps. MHealth apps refer to applications installed on mobile devices that provide users with health information and have simple reminders and health data tracking functions to effectively promote users’ self-health behaviors and improve the efficiency of health services and the accessibility of health information

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Conclusion