The Influence of Content Presentation on Users’ Intention to Adopt mHealth Applications: Based on the S-O-R Theoretical Model

Abstract

The development of internet technology enables mobile medical health (mHealth) applications (Apps) to provide users with health services. The content presentation of apps is an important factor affecting users’ adoption of mHealth Apps. This study aims to examine the effect of the content presentation of mHealth Apps on users’ adoption intention, using the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory as the theoretical framework. A model of the effect of the content presentation of mHealth Apps on users’ intention to adopt, integrating perceived value and trust, was constructed. Furthermore, a quantitative study using a questionnaire survey was carried out to test the model. The analysis shows that platform information presentation, guidance information presentation, and relational information presentation indirectly have a significant positive effect on willingness toward participation and recommendation through the mediating effect of perceived value or trust. All three presentations have a significant positive effect on perceived value. Platform information presentation has a significant positive effect on trust in contrast to the other two presentations. In addition, the results reveal that perceived value and trust have a significant positive effect on willingness toward participation and recommendation, respectively. However, the effect of perceived value on trust is not significant. This work could provide measures and suggestions to improve users’ intention to adopt mHealth Apps as well as help researchers, developers, service providers, and app users to use and improve this modern mobile medical service.