Abstract
Background: Universities use Wi-Fi networks to provide internet access to enhance students’ learning experience. This study evaluated the factors that might effect students’ intention to use a specific hostel Wi-Fi system for learning purposes at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), proposed by Venkatesh et al., which explains users’ behavioral intentions to use technology, was used to design the conceptual framework. The covariance-based structural equation modelling technique was employed to analyse data collected from 310 medical students.Results: The model assessments of validity and reliability were acceptable. Among the factors studied, only performance expectancy (PE) (β = 0.284, P ≤ 0.001), social influence (SI) (β = 0.222, P ≤ 0.001), and facilitating conditions (FC) (β = 0.615, P ≤ 0.001) significantly effected on students’ intention to use the Wi-Fi system for learning, while effort expectancy (EE) (β = -0.184, P ≤ 0.130) did not. Moreover, behavioral intention (BI) (β = 0.533, P ≤ 0.001) and FC (β = 0.320, P ≤ 0.001) had significant effects on the students’ actual use of the Wi-Fi system for learning.Conclusions: This study enhances our understanding of the factors effecting medical students’ Wi-Fi access on campuses for learning purposes. Among these factors, the influence of FC was very strong. This highlights the importance of the FC, among other factors, in providing Wi-Fi network initiatives on campuses. Furthermore, university administrators can use the findings of this study to identify the requirements for the successful integration of network technologies in educational settings.