Abstract
BackgroundAlthough elderly users comprise a major user group in the field of mobile health (mHealth) services, their adoption rate of such services is relatively low compared with their use of traditional health services. Increasing the adoption rate of mHealth services among elderly users is beneficial to the aging process.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the determinants of mHealth service use intentions using a trust transfer model among elderly users facing declining physiological conditions and lacking support from hospitals.MethodsA survey comprising 395 users aged 60 years and above was conducted in China to validate our research model and hypotheses.ResultsThe results reveal that (1) trust in mHealth services positively influences use intentions, (2) trust in offline health services positively influences trust in mHealth services, (3) declining physiological conditions strengthen the effects of trust in offline health services regarding trust in mHealth services, (4) support from hospitals weakens the effects of trust in mHealth services on use intentions, and (5) the relationship between trust in offline health services and intention to use mHealth services is partially mediated by trust in mHealth services. The independent variables and moderators collectively explain a 48.3% variance in the use intention of mHealth services.ConclusionsWe conclude that the trust transfer theory is useful in explaining the development of initial trust in mHealth services. In addition, declining physiological conditions and support from hospitals are important factors for investigating the adoption of mHealth services among elderly users.
Highlights
With advances in health care assisting more people to live longer, the number of people aged over 60 years is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion, representing 22% of the world’s total population [1]
We conclude that the trust transfer theory is useful in explaining the development of initial trust in mobile health (mHealth) services
The results demonstrate that trust in offline health services has a significant effect on trust in mHealth services, supporting hypothesis 2
Summary
Background With advances in health care assisting more people to live longer, the number of people aged over 60 years is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion, representing 22% of the world’s total population [1]. In China, the development of mHealth services continues to remain at the infancy stage, and the adoption rate of such services among older people remains low [8]. The low adoption rate of mHealth services by the elderly has prompted the Chinese government to reconsider their developing strategies, to encompass the rapidly growing number of elderly users to alleviate the pressures of the aging population. Elderly users comprise a major user group in the field of mobile health (mHealth) services, their adoption rate of such services is relatively low compared with their use of traditional health services. Increasing the adoption rate of mHealth services among elderly users is beneficial to the aging process
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