Impact of using the intelligent physical health measurement system on active aging: A survey in Taiwan

Abstract

Background: In Taiwan, the Chiayi City Government and Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs have worked together to promote smart health management in the community and encourage people to use the intelligent physical health measurement system (IPHMS) with Smart Body Health Measuring Machine. Volunteers help participants in the community to use the IPHMS to ensure that measurements are taken correctly. Objectives: This study aimed to explore volunteers’ satisfaction with using the IPHMS and the effects of the measurement service on the participants’ measurement behavior intention, and further explore the impact on their active aging. Methods: This study used a paper questionnaire to survey both the participants of the measurement service and the community volunteers from March to April 2021. A total of 180 valid responses were collected. Results: The sociodemographic information showed that the volunteers were mostly female, were aged over 61 years old, had received junior college education, had spent less than 3–6 years in community service, and had 6 months to 1 year of measured service experience. Additionally, the participants of the measurement service were mostly female, were aged over 61 years old, had received below middle school education, had spent less than 1–3 years in community service, and spent an average of 5 days in the community each week. Our results showed that the information quality (β = 0.352, p < 0.001) and system quality (β = 0.701, p < 0.001) had significant effects on volunteers’ satisfaction of using the IPHMS. Subjective norms had significant effects on participants’ perceived disease threat (β = 0.347, p < 0.001) and behavior intention of management service (β = 0.701, p < 0.001); furthermore, behavior intention had significant effects on their social participation for active aging (β = 0.430, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Improving the system and information quality is likely to improve volunteers’ satisfaction with the system. Active aging factors only affect social participation, which represents the measurement services promote for social interaction mostly.