JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mobile healthcare (mHealth) applications are emerging globally as a vital component of Internet healthcare, but there are issues, especially among older adults.

Objective:

To investigate the factors influencing the intention to use (ITU) mHealth applications, focusing on those with and without prior mHealth experience.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study conducted from August 2022 to July 2023 included Thai citizens aged 45 years or older. Self-reported questionnaires collected data on sociodemographic information, health conditions, smartphone or tablet ownership, and mHealth usage experience. The Thai mHealth Senior Technology Acceptance Model (STAM) questionnaires with a 10-point Likert scale evaluated mHealth acceptance. A multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender, education, income, and living area, was performed for two subgroups: those who ITU mHealth applications and those who did not.

Results:

Of 1,100 participants, 537 intended to use (ITU) mHealth applications (48.8%), while 563 did not (51.2%). The ITU group had a younger average age, higher education levels, higher income, and fewer underlying diseases compared to those who did not intend to use mHealth applications. For those who had never used mHealth applications, having a smartphone was strongly associated with higher odds of ITU (aOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.60 to 4.93; p < 0.001), while having any underlying disease was associated with lower odds of ITU (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97; p = .034). Higher acceptance levels, characterized by a positive attitude towards mHealth and lower fear of making mistakes, were also associated with higher ITU. For those with prior mHealth experience, acceptance in areas such as perceived ease of use, gerontechnology anxiety, and facilitating conditions was significantly associated with ITU.

Conclusions:

Among inexperienced users, a positive attitude towards mHealth significantly enhanced ITU. Conversely, having an underlying disease decreased ITU, indicating a need for tailored mHealth applications. For experienced users, acceptance levels in areas such as ease of use and gerontechnology anxiety were crucial. Future research should explore specific mHealth applications for more targeted insights.