ABSTRACT
Introduction: Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this article investigates the adoption of telemedicine services from a patient perspective in Germany, Spain, and the United States using a mixed-methods approach. Digital health technologies have the potential to improve access to care and to alleviate the burden on traditional health care systems and are becoming more integrated into everyday medicine. Therefore, understanding the factors that impact patients' intentions to use telemedicine is crucial to ensure successful development. Methods: Based on 1,200 surveys collected in Germany, Spain, and the United States, structural equation modeling (IBM SPSS Amos 24) is employed to test the hypotheses. The article also explores how age and gender moderate the proposed relationships. Results: Seven out of the 10 hypotheses (performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, habit, relative advantage, and perceived security) are found to be positive, direct, and statistically significant. Furthermore, findings suggest stronger effects for telemedicine usage intention for younger female users than their male counterparts. Discussion: With digital health technologies becoming more prevalent, the outcomes of this study can endorse the development of effective strategies to promote the adoption of telemedicine, ultimately improving access to care and contributing to the advancement of and modern health care.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has put digital health technologies in the spotlight. To gain a deeper understanding of patients' usage intentions of virtual doctor appointments, the present research adapts the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) by integrating perceived security and perceived product advantage, two known barriers to successful telemedicine adoption. Applying age-stratified sampling, an online survey was distributed to 800 citizens in Germany and the United States of America. 710 completed and valid questionnaires were subsequently analyzed using SPSS and AMOS (versions 24). Significant, direct, and positive effects of performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, perceived security, and perceived product advantage on the behavioral intention to use virtual doctor appointments were found. The analysis of the moderating variables, age and gender, showed significant differences in user's performance expectancy and effort expectancy, and perceived product advantage, respectively. With virtual health care models on the rise, these results are important for stakeholders such as policymakers, governments, employers, but also physicians, and insurance companies as they offer clear recommendations to design telemedicine adoption strategies to ensure successful patient engagement.
ABSTRACT
Even though the healthcare industry is usually considered a rather traditional and slowly evolving sector, change is happening. Digitalization is transforming the way of obtaining medical advice and treatment and the Internet has become a key source for the seeking of healthcare information. It has allowed people to turn into more active collaborators in matters of their own health by enabling them to easily search and share information with other patients. Although research points out the growing importance of user-generated content in many sectors and its positive impact on information credibility, trust, engagement, and, ultimately, customer behavior (Malthouse et al., 2016), there is a lack of attention to this topic in healthcare. In this brief review, we address this gap by analyzing the role of health e-mavens, which are a particular type of influencers that possesses both expertise and online social influence. We lastly illustrate possible benefits of their impact on other to the different parties involved and affected by this phenomenon.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ascertaining how consumers perceive the risk related to the use of generic prescription drugs and those factors which have the greatest impact on the intention to request a generic drug from the prescribing physician and/or the pharmacist for the purpose of determining any possible barriers or hindrances to the acceptance of generics and to gather information to aid healthcare managers in their decision-making processes. METHODS: Study on prescription drug use revolving around the degree to which patients are willing to request an EFG. In this quantitative transversal study, a total of 542 individuals were individually surveyed upon exiting a healthcare center or pharmacy in Asturias. A scale for measuring the perceived risk involved in the purchase of a prescription drug including 15 attributes grouped into five aspects was included in the questionnaire. Information was also gathered regarding the intention of using generic prescription drugs and on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of those surveyed. For the analysis of the results, a factorial confirmational analysis, multiple regression and univariate analysis were used. The data was processed using the EQS and SPSS statistics programs. RESULTS: Mean perception of the risk (scales 1-7): functional: 2.75; physical: 2.68: financial: 2.19; psychological: 1.99; social: 1.42. Factors having a bearing on the intention of requesting generic prescription drugs from their physician: psychological risk (p = 0.000). On requesting the same from their pharmacist: psychological risk (p = 0.000) and social risk (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The agents interested in the development on the EFG market should target their communication efforts on putting the functional and financial aspects of the manufacturer's specialties and generic specialties on the same level, but should not leave out psychological and social aspects of the consumers' purchasing behavior.
