From Resistance to Acceptance: Developing Health Task Measures to Boost mHealth Adoption among Older Adults: Mixed-Methods Approach and Innovation Resistance

Wilson Ka-shing Leung, Sally P M Law, Man Lai Cheung, Man Kit Chang, Chung Yin Lai, Na Liu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: There are two main objectives in this study. First, we aim to develop a set of constructs for health task management support (HTMS) features to evaluate which health-related tasks are supported by mobile health application (mHealth app) functions. Second, drawing on innovation resistance theory (IRT), we examine the impacts of the newly developed HTMS dimensions on perceived usefulness, alongside other barrier factors contributing to technology anxiety.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a mixed-method research design, this research seeks to develop new measurement scales that reflect how mHealth apps support older adults’ health-related needs based on interviews. Subsequently, data were collected from older adults and exploratory factor analysis was used to confirm the validity of the new scales. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze survey data from 602 older adults.

Findings: The PLS-SEM results indicated that medical management task support, dietary task support, and exercise task support were positively associated with perceived usefulness, while perceived complexity and dispositional resistance to change were identified as antecedents of technology anxiety. Perceived usefulness and technology anxiety were found to positively and negatively influence adoption intention, respectively.

Originality/value: This study enriches the information systems literature by developing a multidimensional construct that delineates how older adults’ health-related needs can be supported by features of mHealth apps. Drawing on IRT, we complement the existing literature on resistance to innovation by systematically examining the impact of five types of barriers on technology anxiety.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages44
JournalInternet Research
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 29 Aug 2024

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Health Information Management
  • Management Information Systems

User-Defined Keywords

  • Mobile health applications
  • Innovation resistance theory
  • Health task management support
  • Mixed-methods
  • Aging population
  • Technology adoption
  • Barriers
  • Older adults
  • Qualitative study
  • Quantitative study
  • Healthcare technology

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