Survey On Acceptance And Its Influencing Factors Of Telehome Health Management System For The Elderly Based On Technology Acceptance Model Theory

Research BackgroundThe persistent aging tendency of population has raised incidence and prevalence rates of chronic diseases, and increased social and individual medical costs, which poses a severe challenge to our nation’s traditional health care service mode. Meanwhile, advances in society, economy and technology have promoted demands of senior citizens for high quality life and expanded development prospect of telehome health management.The telehome health management system for the elderly integrates health data collecting equipments, health management system, hospital information system (HIS) and telemedicine platform. Such a system can overcome barriers of time and space to provide interactive service including telehome health monitoring, health assessment, health intervention and consultation. Its detailed functions are as follows.(1) Data collection, refers to monitor and collect physiological health data for the aged such as blood glucose, blood pressure and electrocardiogram by Internet of things (IOT) technology-based physiological parameter measuring equipments and radio frequency identification devices. Then, the data will be transferred to health service providers through the web.(2) Health assessment refers to service including health data analysis, health risk prediction and rational health intervention plan adjustment according to changes in users’health information. Meanwhile, individual health data can be conveyed to the HIS, which realizes dynamic accumulation and storage of data, and contributes to electronic health records center construction.(3) Health consultation refers to provide service such as online consulting and health education for the elderly and their family on the basis of the telehealth management website, video devices and communication equipments.(4) Emergency medical help is an essential part for old people. As soon as a button is pressed to send out the rescue signal when accidents happen, the health service provider will communicate with the old person through monitoring screen. After further information is collected, medical help such as informing relatives and transporting patients will be offered.The telehome elderly health management industry is faced with huge market demands and accords with the national policy direction. Furthermore, current integration of biomedicine, wireless communication, network technology and IOT technology makes it possible to build the telehome health management system.Research ObjectivesAs old folks have their own characteristics in physiological, psychological and social needs, telehome elderly health management system construction should be customer-focused. To be specific, system evaluation should be conducted from the perspective of aged users besides technical aspects. Their users’acceptance of the system and its influencing factors should be discussed to improve behavior intention and actual use of telehome elderly health management system, and to convert potential needs into effective demands.The study conducts home and abroad literature review to explore aged population’s attitude, demands and affecting factors of telehome elderly health management system based on technology acceptance model (TAM). Then user acceptance can be estimated, theoretical model of factors impacting choices will be built, and suggestions on system construction and management will be offered. Specific research goals are summarized as follows:to summarize current domestic and international situation of telehome health management, and conclude the application of TAM and related theories; to discuss key factors influencing users’ choices of telehome health management system and build its theoretical model; to propose users’requirement analysis and management strategies on telehome health management system construction for the aged.Research Methods1. Literature ResearchThe article collected, summarized and sorted out relevant literature information on current domestic and international situation of telehome health management and TAM. Research design was made based on literature research, which laid the theoretical foundation for research framework and thesis writing.(1) TAM was proposed based on theory of reasoned action (TRA), and it had been widely applied in information system research to investigate the perception and acceptance of certain information technology. According to TAM, users’ actual use is determined by their behavior intention (BI), which is affected by attitude, perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU). TAM was modified and perfected based on empirical studies and related models such as TAM2and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) were built.(2) TAM and its relevant theories have shown the applicability to interpret acceptance behavior on new technological products. They were commonly applied in technology, commercial trade and economic management industries, and were also applied in some new medical technologies. However, there were only few application cases on telehome health management system.2. Survey ResearchThe paper adopted empirical analysis method based on literature research to build the theoretical model, propose research hypotheses and design survey questionnaire. The survey was conducted among the elderly aged60and above and data collected were used to validate theoretical model and research hypotheses.(1) Theoretical Model ConstructionTAM was chose as the basic theoretical model framework. Considering specific survey respondents and research goals, external variables were determined and our original theory model was build. External variables included individual characteristics (demographic variables and self-rated health), system technology (perceived risk and technology anxiety) and social support (subject norm).(2) Research Hypotheses BuildingOur research hypotheses were as follows:individual characteristics of the aged affected their PEOU and PU; technology anxiety influenced both PEOU and PU, while perceived risk made an effect on PU; subject norm also affected degree of PU; PEOU and PU determined BI, which finally determined aged users’ acceptance and actual use of telehome health management system. (3) Questionnaire SurveyInclusion criteria of survey respondents were as follows:the elderly aged60and above; had to be mentally able to understand questionnaire content. The questionnaire included two parts:personal information (demographic variables and self-rated health) and cognitive variables about telehome health management system. As the study was cross-sectional and questionnaire survey should be feasible, all five sampling spots were located in Guangzhou (two first-class hospitals, one second-class hospital and two community health service centers). The survey was done under the agreement of the selected units and respondents and lasted from Nov.2012to Dec.2012. Finally, the effective sample size was313.3. Statistical AnalysisData collected in the survey were analyzed by SPSS18.0. Detailed methods included descriptive statistical analysis, reliability analysis and validity analysis, correlation analysis and analysis of individual differences(a=0.05). Statistical results were used to modify original theoretical model and verify research hypotheses.Research Results1. Theoretical model and research hypotheses in this thesis were valid. Technology anxiety, subject norm, PEOU and PU were main cognitive variables affecting aged users’ acceptance of telehome health management system. The study demonstrated a significantly positive correlation between technology anxiety and perceived risk, while technology anxiety was related to PEOU and PU significantly and negatively. Perceived risk was also related to PEOU and PU significantly and negatively. There were significantly positive correlations between subject norm and PU, between PEOU and PU, BI, between PU and BI. 2. Individual characteristics including age, education and self-rated health also had significant effects on accepting telehome health management system. Users of different ages differed significantly in technology anxiety and PEOU (P<0.05), obvious differences were found in technology anxiety, perceived risk and PEOU among people of different education levels (P<0.05), and results showed that users of different self-rated health condition differed significantly in technology anxiety, PEOU and PU (P<0.05). On the contrary, gender, income, place of residence and living condition had no obvious influence on cognitive variables (P>0.05).Research Discussion1. TAM is an effective tool to discuss aged users’acceptance of telehome health management system and its influencing factors, but the identification of external variables should be based on specific research objects and objectives.2. The construction of telehome elderly health management system should be a customer-oriented program. It is necessary to make market segmentation, adopt flexible service styles and perfect the system according to users’ demands.3. Considering effecting factors of the system, related management strategies should be taken as follows:(1) Targeted training should be offered to lessen technology anxiety.(2) Safety designing should be emphasized to reduce perceived risk.(3) Mutual participation should be encouraged to create social environment.(4) People-oriented service should be provided to improve PEOU.(5) Hospital resources should be integrated to promote PU.