Acceptance of Mobile Health Applications: Examining Key Determinants and Moderators

Abstract

Mobile health applications are increasingly numerous and varied. However, despite high expectations and large budgets involved in their development they are often rejected by potential users, and little is known on why this happens. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the determinants of technology acceptance and its moderators. Aligned with the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, we examined the moderating roles of age, gender, and smartphone experience in the relationship between technology acceptance determinants (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions) and the intention to use mobile health applications (N = 394, 18–65 years). A stepwise multiple linear regression was conducted. Results showed that the intention to use mobile health applications was determined by performance expectancy moderated by age and smartphone experience, and that the role of the other determinants depended on age and gender (e.g., more intention to use in older men if less effort, and in younger men if better facilitating conditions). These findings show that user characteristics are relevant moderators and should be considered when targeting specific populations to use mobile health applications.