How Do Patients with Chronic Diseases Make Usage Decisions regarding Mobile Health Monitoring Service?

Abstract

Objectives. The increasing population of patients with chronic diseases generates great challenge of chronic disease management. The occurrence of mobile health monitoring service (MHMS) is beneficial to chronic disease prevention and health promotion. The objective of this study is to investigate how patients with chronic diseases make usage decisions on MHMS. Study Design. A survey. Methods. 213 respondents with chronic diseases were asked to rate their level of health severity, negative health emotions, and health uncertainty avoidance. SmartPLS was used to test the measurement model. Results. Of 213 research respondents, 159 of them have one chronic disease, while 54 have more than one such disease. Perceived health severity of patients with chronic diseases positively influences MHMS usage intentions, while negative health emotions do not. Health uncertainty avoidance strengthens the effect of health severity but weakens the effect of negative health emotions on MHMS usage intentions. Conclusion. Patients with chronic diseases have a unique decision-making process regarding MHMS usage in which their special health-related factors and tendencies play a critical role in determining behavioral intentions.