Adding Affordances and Communication Efficacy to the Technology Acceptance Model to Study the Messaging Features of Online Patient Portals among Young Adults

Abstract

The use of messaging features within online patient portals could be beneficial to patients, but many patients do not utilize these features. Furthermore, it remains uncertain the reasons why patients may (or may not) use messaging features to communicate with a care provider. This study proposes and tests an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which incorporated perceived affordances (editability and persistence) and communication efficacy. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 525 young adults. Results showed that the editability affordance was conducted with perceived usefulness, while communication efficacy was associated with perceived ease of use of messaging. Editability and communication efficacy also were positively associated intention to use online patient portal messaging features, whereas persistence was negatively associated. Results suggest practitioners should emphasize editability and communication efficacy to increase patient intentions to use messaging features to communicate with a care provider.

A Study on the Factors Influencing Users’ Online Knowledge Paying-Behavior Based on the UTAUT Model

“…The technology acceptance model theory suggests two main factors of information activity, namely perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use [24]. In conjunction with the previous literature summary, perceived usefulness portrays the ultimate performance of the knowledge recipient in terms of independent judgment (expected benefits), 'other-me influence' (opinion leaders or external environmental interference) activities, while perceived ease of use is the ease of use of the knowledge product provided by the knowledge provider and reflects the degree of knowledge quality and authority [25].…”

Investigating Patients' Continuance Intention Toward Conversational Agents in Outpatient Departments: Cross-sectional Field Survey

“…There has been a considerable body of theory-based research on information system use in recent years. Among the theoretical models, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is commonly applied to understand the initial acceptance of information systems, including intelligent health service systems (eg, registration systems and patient portals) [13][14][15][16]. The TAM predicts users' initial use of information systems based on the following two constructs: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use [17].…”

The Role of Perceived Utilitarian and Hedonic Value in Predicting Use of Location-Based Anonymous Social Networking Sites

“…In the context of health-related information systems, Razmak and Bélanger (2018) included "compatibility" and "communicativeness," along with perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, to predict patients' attitude toward adopting the personal health record systems. Mao and Hovick (2020) used two facets of perceived affordance-perceived editability and perceived persistence-and subjective norm to predict perceived usefulness of online messaging features embedded in online patient portals. Since these portals facilitate direct communication between patients and health care providers, perceived affordances associated with this channel of communication captures its utilitarian value.…”

“…Turning to its relationship to the core motivational constructs of TAM, Mao and Hovick (2020) investigated the adoption behavior of messaging features in online patient portals using TAM and reported a positive relationship between perceived technology affordance and perceived usefulness. Tsai, Chang, and Ho (2016) reported a positive association between perceived technology affordance and perceived ease of use in user acceptance of the Memotree system that was designed to encourage family social interaction.…”