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Role of user a priori attitude in the acceptance of mobile health: an empirical investigation

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Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the role of user attitude toward the activity supported by a mobile health application in the overall technology acceptance equation. For that, a perceived risk-motivation theoretical model integrating user attitude on quitting smoking was developed and tested empirically with 170 participants from the UK for the context of using cell phones to support smoking cessation interventions. Results show an attitude favourable to quitting smoking has a negative effect on the perceived risk, no significant effect on the motivation, and a small positive influence on the behavioural intention associated with using the mobile health service. Overall, having a positive a priori attitude toward a healthy activity is not a sufficient reason to make users accept a mobile service supporting that activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Athabasca University, 1 University Drive, Athabasca, Alberta, T9S 3A3, Canada

    Mihail Cocosila

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  1. Mihail Cocosila
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Correspondence to Mihail Cocosila.

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Responsible Editor: Doug Vogel

Appendix A - measurement scales for the theoretical model

Appendix A - measurement scales for the theoretical model

Perceived financial risk

Signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service would be a poor way to spend my money.

I would be concerned about how much I would pay if I subscribed to the quit-smoking SMS service.

If I subscribed to the quit-smoking SMS service, I would be concerned that I would not get my money’s worth.

Perceived privacy risk

My use of the quit-smoking SMS service would cause me to lose control over the privacy of my information.

Signing up for and using the quit-smoking SMS service would lead to a loss of privacy for me because my personal information could be used without my knowledge.

Internet hackers (criminals) might take control of my information if I used the quit-smoking SMS service.

Perceived psychological risk

The thought of signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service makes me feel uncomfortable.

The thought of signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service gives me an unwanted feeling of anxiety.

The thought of signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service causes me to experience unnecessary tension.

Perceived time risk

Using the quit-smoking SMS service could lead to an inefficient use of my time.

Using the quit-smoking SMS service could involve important time losses.

The demands on my schedule are such that using the quit-smoking SMS service concerns me because it could create even more time pressures on me that I don’t need.

Perceived social risk

My friends and colleagues’ negative opinions about my signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service would cause me to feel concerned.

If signing up for the quit-smoking SMS service, I would be concerned about what people whose opinion is of value for me would think of me, if I made a bad choice.

My subscribing to the quit-smoking SMS service would cause me concern about what my friends would think of me, if I made a bad choice.

Attitude toward activity

People who smoke should stop smoking for a while every now and then.

Most smoking is addictive.

Smoking can do more harm than good.

Smoking is poison.

Extrinsic motivation

Using the quit-smoking SMS service would help me to refrain from smoking every day, if I decided to quit smoking.

Using the quit-smoking SMS service would help me not to forget about smoking cessation, if I decided to quit smoking.

Using the quit-smoking SMS service would help me to stop smoking, if I decided to quit smoking.

I expect to find the quit-smoking SMS service useful in supporting me to quit smoking, if I decided to quit smoking.

Intrinsic motivation

I expect to find the quit-smoking SMS service enjoyable.

The actual process of using the quit-smoking SMS service would be pleasant.

I would have fun using the quit-smoking SMS service.

Behavioural intention

Assuming I had access to the quit-smoking SMS service, I would intend to use it, if I decided to quit smoking.

Given that I had access to the quit-smoking SMS service, I predict that I would use it, if I decided to quit smoking.

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Cocosila, M. Role of user a priori attitude in the acceptance of mobile health: an empirical investigation. Electron Markets 23, 15–27 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-012-0111-5

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