The willingness to adopt m-Health among Chinese parents under COVID-19 outbreak：a cross-sectional study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Under COVID-19 outbreak, m-Health can assist with health promotion, medicine instruction, disease diagnosis via online chat, video consultation without visiting hospitals. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at identifying associated factors of willingness to adopt m-Health among Chinese parents under COVID-19 outbreak, investigated the correlation between the frequency of adopting m-Health and parent’s behaviour towards child-health at home. METHODS An online-based survey was performed among Chinese parents from 25th January to 15th February, 2020. Two questionnaires including demographic variables and parent’s behavior towards child-health at home were used to measure the procedure. RESULTS Out of 254 parents, 202 (79.53%) were willing to adopt m-Health under COVID-19 outbreak. Multivariable logistics regression model demonstrated that parent’s age, parent’s attention to the pandemic of COVID-19, the source to recommend m-Health, the child with chronic disease, parent’s duration of daily internet use, adopt mobile health service before COVID-19 outbreak were significantly correlated with parent’s willingness to adopt m-Health under COVID-19 outbreak. Pearson chi-square test revealed a strong indication of dependency between the frequency of using m-Health in one month and parent’s behavior towards child-health at home (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Willingness to adopt m-Health was high. parent’s age, parent’s attention to the pandemic of COVID-19, the source to recommend m-Health, the child with chronic disease, parent’s duration of daily internet use, adopt mobile health service before COVID-19 outbreak were significantly associated factors. Providing the option of m-Health to patients under COVID-19 outbreak would be a better way to educate and instruct them to improve self-management in child-health at home.

Mobile health service adoption in China

Purpose Mobile health service (MHS) can provide users with convenient health services and information to reduce their medical costs from aging or other health issues. Previous studies confirm the underdevelopment of the Chinese MHS. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that affect the intention to use MHS. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a research model that integrates personal health differences with theory of planned behavior (TPB) and protection motivation theory (PMT). This model is empirically tested using data from 494 valid questionnaires. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses. Findings Perceived vulnerability to disease, perceived severity of disease, response efficacy and self-efficacy positively affect attitude, thereby exerting a positive influence on the behavioral intention to use MHS. Subjective norms also influence users’ behavioral intention. Personal health status and personal health value have quasi-moderating effects on the relationship between attitude and behavioral intention. Originality/value This paper presents an early attempt to conceptualize and validate a research model of MHS acceptance by integrating TPB and PMT in a complementary manner. The integrated model provides a holistic view of people’s intention to use MHS by considering health threat beliefs, individual role (i.e. attitude and self-efficacy) and social influences (i.e. subjective norms). Furthermore, this research highlights the role of two individual health characteristics (i.e. personal health status and personal health value) in MHS adoption. These new findings are beneficial toward an in-depth understanding of technology adoption in the MHS context.

Consumer Co-creation of Value in mHealth (Mobile Health) Service

Co-creation of value (CCV) is an emerging research discipline. The extant literature primarily focused on tangible value in firm context, relegating value created in an individual’s personal space. CCV extends beyond tangible outcomes. While service-dominant logic (SDL) created more interest in co-creation, much of the literature remained at a conceptual level. Empirical studies centred on the individual CCV are scarce. This article argues that individuals co-create value in their own space and there is a need to recognize and enhance our knowledge about it. The article proposes a conceptual model for individuals’ CCV in mobile health (mHealth) service context, identifying knowledge, well-being and productivity as dimensions that define quality of life. The study yields insights on how individuals generate value through the use of technology. The study contributes new knowledge on factors that contribute to individuals’ CCV. For value research and theory, the article positions individuals at the centre over firms. The research extends value envelope beyond firms and tangible outcomes to encompass individuals and experiential value. For Information Systems (IS), the model expands study horizon to complex social settings that yield valuable insights on how socio-technical interactions alter individual’s CCV. The study may further motivate empirical work on individual’s CCV.